The state visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Kazakhstan on 7-8 August 2024 has undeniably become a momentous historical event. This meeting marked a significant milestone in the development of Uzbek-Kazakh cooperation, elevating it to a qualitatively new level. The summit’s agenda was extensive and held practical significance for both nations.
As a result of the visit, a substantial package of documents was adopted, covering a wide range of issues related to bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, healthcare, agriculture, and cultural and humanitarian collaboration.
The visit’s program was notably rich. It included the successful holding of the Intergovernmental Commission meeting, the Business Council, a business forum, the first session of the Expert Council, and the Zakovat intellectual game with teams from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
This demonstrates that Uzbek-Kazakh relations are currently experiencing the best period in their history of independent development. In this context, the awarding of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with Kazakhstan’s highest state award, the “Altyn Kyran” Order, is not only a confirmation of the high level of trust between the two brotherly countries but also an acknowledgment of President Mirziyoyev’s personal contribution to strengthening the bonds of friendship and good-neighborliness.
Moreover, a significant outcome of the high level of interaction achieved by the two countries is the institutionalization of political dialogue. During the visit, the first session of the Supreme Intergovernmental Council took place. The establishment of this council clearly demonstrates the readiness of both states to systematize our multifaceted cooperation.
The council is intended to address the most important bilateral and global issues and determine the main directions of interaction. During the council’s meeting, the leaders of the two countries emphasized the importance of coordinating positions and effectively advancing shared interests within international structures.
As a result, the heads of state adopted the Program of Strategic Partnership and Alliance between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for 2024-2034. This document reaffirmed Tashkent and Astana’s intentions to develop long-term cooperation and infuse bilateral relations with practical content.
Among other important agreements was the establishment of the Interparliamentary Forum with the participation of both chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Parliament of Kazakhstan.
It should be noted that today, interparliamentary cooperation is a crucial aspect of bilateral relations, fostering the strengthening of partnership and friendship between peoples.
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have a solid foundation in this regard. Over the years of cooperation, the parliaments of the two countries have exchanged delegation visits to study parliamentary practices, including participation in various international conferences and parliamentary organizations. Memorandums of Cooperation were signed between the Senates in 2017 and between the lower houses of the parliaments in 2018.
Since 2021, productive interaction has been established through the Commission for Cooperation between the Senates of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The Interparliamentary Cooperation Council between the lower houses of the two countries is functioning effectively.
The effective use of interparliamentary cooperation tools will add strategic depth to the interaction between our countries, strengthen oversight of the implementation of agreements reached, and enable the full range of opportunities in our multifaceted cooperation.
Furthermore, by maintaining strategic communication with the public, the parliament helps to identify the aspirations of the people and convey the essence and significance of the agreements reached between our countries. In this context, elevating parliamentary interaction to a new level reflects the intention of the Heads of State to enhance direct connections between our peoples.
It is also worth mentioning the signing of the Memorandum on the establishment of the Uzbek-Kazakh Expert Council under the auspices of the strategic institutions of the two countries. This is undoubtedly a highly demanded mechanism for substantive and, importantly, regular discussions on issues of mutual interest.
The results of its first meeting, held on 2 August 2024, ahead of the leaders’ meeting, generated genuinely new ideas and proposals, enriching the summit’s agenda with important practical suggestions.
Overall, the impressive package of documents signed in Astana represents a logical conclusion to the joint efforts made and opens new prospects for the development of bilateral relations.
It can be said with firm confidence that the established allied relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan meet not only the fundamental, vital, and long-term interests of both peoples but also serve as a key factor for peace and sustainable development in Central Asia.( The author is: Leading Researcher, at ISMI under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan) Source: Uz Daily)
