The first consultative meeting of the Central Asian leaders was held in Astana (Kazakhstan) on 15 March, which was attended by the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, President Sooronbai Jeenbekov of the Kyrgyz Republic, President Imomali Rahmon of Tajikistan and Chairman of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan Akja Nurberdyeva.

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said that President of Uzbekistan initiated holding of the regular meeting to solve the regional problems. He added that it is profoundly symbolic that the meeting is taking place on the eve of the Navruz holiday shared by our people. Before, we used to meet in bilateral format, but such a general meeting has not been held for a long time, he added.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, when assuming the Presidency, noted that he would commit to close cooperation with neighboring countries. Over the past short time, he kept his commitments which have become a reality. The President Mirziyoyev visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan on state visits. Mutually beneficial decisions have been reached on the state border, transport communications, interregional cooperation and many other issues.

At the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in September 2017 Uzbek President put forward a number of constructive ideas and initiatives to strengthen peace and security and sustainable social and economic development in the Central Asian region. These initiatives were developed into a comprehensive program at the conference entitled Central Asia: Shared Past and a Common Future, Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Mutual Prosperity, held in Samarkand last November.

At the meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that this day opened a new page in the history of the centuries-old good-neighborly relations of the peoples of Central Asia.

Uzbekistan’s cooperation with neighboring countries is consistently developing, he said. The trade turnover of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan grew by over 20%. While, there are huge untapped potential, which can be used for the well-being of our peoples.

The President of Uzbekistan suggested holding consultative meetings between the heads of states on the eve Navruz each year and to hold the next meeting in Tashkent.

Central Asian leaders exchanged views on the ways to advance cooperation in trade, economic, transport, communication, cultural and humanitarian spheres on the basis of mutual trust and interest, and strengthening of security and stability in the region.