Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan discussed the establishment of the International Water and Energy
Consortium. The inaugural meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation
Council between the two countries was held in Tashkent. During the meeting, the
parties discussed the coordination procedures for the Agreement on the joint
management and use of transboundary rivers. Parliament members also touched
upon matters related to their bilateral partnership in the field of trade and
investment. Among the promising joint projects, they highlighted the
construction of the Central Asia International Center for Industrial
Cooperation. Yerlan Koshanov, Chairperson of the Mazhilis, the Lower House of
the Kazakh Parliament, emphasized the
importance of establishing the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Council, noting
the advanced format of such interaction.
“The Presidents of
our countries have developed trusting and friendly relations, which have a
positive impact on the full range of bilateral interactions. The signing of the
Declaration on Allied Relations and the Treaty on Allied Relations marked
pivotal moments in strengthening the Kazakh-Uzbek friendship. The heads of
state entrusted the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Council with parliamentary
control over the timely and proper implementation of all agreements at the
highest level,” said Koshanov.
It is worth noting
that Uzbekistan is Kazakhstan's largest economic partner in Central Asia and
accounts for over 60 percent of Kazakhstan’s total trade turnover with Central
Asian states. Last year, trade between the two countries reached a record $5
billion. Now, the governments of the two states aim to elevate this figure to
$10 billion.