Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 12 December 2024, a delegation from Uzbekistan led by Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov participated in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of Governments of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), held in Moscow, Russia.

The meeting was attended by Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Ali Asadov, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov, Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda, Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, Turkmenistan’s Permanent Representative to the CIS Nazarkuly Shakuliyev, and CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev.

In his remarks, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov emphasized the importance President Shavkat Mirziyoyev places on deepening cooperation and expanding trade relations with CIS member states. He highlighted the significance of accelerating efforts to establish a fully operational free trade zone within the CIS, removing exceptions and restrictions.

Additionally, he proposed eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers applied to certain raw materials and food products.

Special focus was placed on developing international transport corridors and strengthening transport and logistics infrastructure along the "North-South" and "East-West" routes.

Participants expressed gratitude for Uzbekistan’s active engagement in 2024 events hosted in Samarkand, the CIS cultural capital, and Tashkent, the youth capital. They also reaffirmed their commitment to continuing joint efforts in various fields.

The meeting included discussions on enhancing cooperation in trade, economic, investment, cultural, humanitarian, and educational spheres. Plans for commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism next year were also addressed.

Eighteen documents were adopted during the meeting, including:

• A memorandum on cooperation in digitizing the transport sector;
• A priority action plan for humanitarian cooperation for 2025-2026;
• A program for the development of cooperation in studying, utilizing, protecting, and monitoring groundwater through 2030, along with its implementation plan;
• A decision on the unified budget and financing of the organization for 2025, among other key documents.

As part of their visit to Russia, the CIS heads of governments toured the renovated campus of Moscow State Technical University named after Bauman, where they reviewed its latest achievements.