Perizat RISBEK KIZI
In recent years, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have built strong and harmonious relations at all levels, which today serve as an example of interstate partnership. In addition, the two countries have a common vision and similar views on many issues of the regional and international agenda, including the stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan. The ongoing visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Nur-Sultan at the invitation of the Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is evidence of such a comprehensive development of relations.
During the talks, the leaders of the two countries paid priority attention to strengthening trade and economic cooperation, including increasing mutual trade, attracting investment, developing cooperation in the spheres of industry, agriculture, construction, and transport.
One of the significant agreements following the talks was the ‘Declaration between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan on Allied Relations’ adopted by the presidents of the two countries, thereby giving a new status to interstate relations. Within this framework, in order to further strengthen strategic cooperation, an agreement was reached to establish the Supreme Interstate Council, the Council of Interparliamentary Cooperation and the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The economies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan do not compete but complement each other
Given the new status of relations, in the near future, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan intend to bring the volume of trade to $ 5 billion. And according to reports, in the next five years, this figure could rise to ten billion dollars. For this, the parties will adopt a roadmap and develop wholesale distribution centers and joint agricultural clusters. In addition, the presidents also agreed to speed up the construction of the Uchkuduk-Kyzylorda railway and highway, as well as the Turkestan-Shymkent-Tashkent high-speed railway.
Another example of active interaction is the joint ventures of the textile, automotive, mining and construction industries, which are successfully operating on the territory of the two countries. Thus, the Uzbek-Kazakh business forum and the 4th meeting of the Uzbek-Kazakh business council were held in the capital of Kazakhstan on December 4, as a result of which trade contracts and bilateral agreements totalling $ 5.9 billion were signed.
Thus, during the official meeting, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are natural economic partners and that their economies do not compete, but complement each other.
A new step towards strengthening strategic partnership for the sake of regional stability and security
The fact that the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan since his re-election in October has been made specifically to Kazakhstan, not only a geographical neighbor, but also the main trade and economic partner, shows the seriousness of the intention to build close bilateral relations. It is important to emphasize that this relation subsequently will serve to regional stability and security against the background of the geopolitical situation in Central Asia.
At the talks in a narrow format, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed that this meeting will mark the beginning of a historically new stage of cooperation, saying: “Allied, strategic relations between our countries are a serious factor in ensuring stability and security in the Central Asian region. This is indeed a fact without any exaggeration. We can say that the better the relationship between our countries, the more stable the situation in our region will be”.
Indeed, according to Dunyo, Kazakh-Uzbek cooperation demonstrates an exemplary model of bilateral and multilateral interaction in all areas, forming a solid foundation that guarantees the further development of the entire Central Asian region. In this sense, the agency notes that Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan continue to successfully and effectively interact for the prosperity of not only their peoples but also entire Central Asia.
In turn, according to the analytical center IA Centr, at the present stage, a favorable diplomatic disposition has developed for intensifying regionalization processes in Central Asia, where the roles and interests of large states are divorced.