Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov held talks with his Kazakh counterpart Alikhan Smailov on the eve of the 20th meeting of the intergovernmental commission on bilateral cooperation in Tashkent.
According to the press service of the government of Kazakhstan, the parties discussed a number of topical issues of Uzbek-Kazakh cooperation, including joint steps in the field of trade, industrial cooperation, investment activities, energy, logistics areas and the use of transboundary water bodies, strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties, etc. d.
Alikhan Smailov stressed that Uzbekistan was one of the largest trade partners of Kazakhstan. In particular, in 2022 the two-way trade reached the planned milestone of $5 billion.
“This was made possible thanks to common efforts. Now, in accordance with the targets set at the highest level, we have to increase the two-way trade volume to $10 billion in the medium term,” he said.
While, he noted the special role of the Uzbek-Kazakh intergovernmental commission in solving a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation.
In turn, Abdulla Aripov outlined the high potential for further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
“There is a positive trend in the two way trade. Significant industrial cooperation projects are being implemented in many sectors of the economy. Uzbekistan aims to further strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, transport, agriculture and water management and other areas. In general, we are interested in further deepening relations with fraternal Kazakhstan,” he said.
