BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 30. Uzbekistan and
Kyrgyzstan agreed to establish an Interstate Council and accelerate
cooperation in trade, energy, transport and industrial development
as Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Sadyr Japarov held talks in
Cholpon-Ata aimed at deepening the two countries' comprehensive
strategic partnership.
This was reflected in the statement by the press service of the
Uzbek president.
Meeting in both one-on-one and expanded formats with official
delegations at the Rukh Ordo cultural center, the leaders reviewed
progress in bilateral relations and outlined priorities for future
cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
"Today, Uzbek-Kyrgyz relations are at a historic peak of their
development," Mirziyoyev said, according to the presidential press
service.
The two presidents agreed to maintain intensive dialogue at the
level of parliaments, governments, ministries, regional authorities
and business communities. They also decided to establish an
Interstate Council to strengthen coordination on bilateral
cooperation.
During the talks, the leaders noted that bilateral trade has
increased nearly tenfold in recent years, reaching $1.2 billion in
2025. They reaffirmed their goal of raising annual trade turnover
to $2 billion in the near future through expanded mutual supplies,
import substitution initiatives and the opening of trade houses and
representative offices in the capitals of both countries.
The sides also emphasized the growing role of industrial
cooperation, identifying energy, geology, critical minerals,
logistics, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and textiles as priority
sectors for joint investment projects. They welcomed a new package
of trade contracts and investment agreements signed during the
Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan Business Forum held a day earlier.
Energy cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, with
the leaders stressing the importance of signing an agreement and
launching the practical implementation phase of the Kambarata HPP-1
hydropower project as soon as possible.
The presidents also reviewed progress on the
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, agreeing to develop border and
trade-logistics infrastructure along the corridor, digitalize
permit procedures and improve conditions for international road
freight carriers.
The two sides underscored the role of regional cooperation in
driving bilateral economic ties and agreed to hold the first
Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan Regional Forum before the end of the year,
bringing together representatives of all regions of both countries.
A schedule of reciprocal regional visits will also be approved.
In addition to economic issues, the leaders pledged to expand
exchanges in culture, tourism, youth affairs, education, science
and sports. They also reaffirmed their commitment to close
coordination within international and regional organizations,
including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, the Organization of Turkic States, the Consultative
Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State and Azerbaijan, and other
multilateral platforms.
The meeting concluded with Mirziyoyev inviting Japarov to pay an
official visit to Uzbekistan at a mutually convenient time.
