President of Uzbekistan visits Kazakhstan

April 24, 2008

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit to Kazakhstan on April 22-23, 2008.

On the first day of the visit, presidents Islam Karimov and Nursultan Nazarbayev held face-to-face talks, which focused on bilateral relations, cooperation within international organizations, regional security, as well as some problems of regional and international character.

At the negotiations of the official delegations, cooperation in trade and economy, as well as humanitarian sphere was considered.

Economic relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are regulated by the free trade agreement signed in 1997. Commodity turnover in 2007 increased by 63.3% to USD 1.193 billion.

Almost 170 joint ventures with Kazakh capital and offices of 54 companies of Kazakhstan are currently operating in Uzbekistan. In Kazakhstan, 94 companies created with Uzbek investments function.

The sides also considered implementation of the Cultural and humanitarian cooperation program for 2006-2008 and further plans in this direction.

Speaking to journalists after the talks, presidents Islam Karimov and Nursultan Nazarbayev said negotiations went in a constructive and open way.

Commenting on media reports about creation of the Union of Central Asian States, President Karimov said: “This initiative is unacceptable for Uzbekistan.”

To create such a union, the countries of Central Asia should have similar levels of economic and social development, and similar views on economic and political development, the head of the state stressed.

“I believe it is too early to speak of creation of some union in our region, especially since we have already experienced this. Firstly, Central Asian Economic Community was set up, which was reorganized into the Central Asian Cooperation Organization. Finally, this structure was merged with the Eurasian Economic Community,” Islam Karimov said.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan reached an agreement on creation of a special working group to develop a document on the free trade zone between the two countries.

On the second day of the visit, Islam Karimov accompanied by Nursultan Nazarbayev visited the MEGA trade center and the Neurosurgery Center in Astana.

Then Islam Karimov met akim (mayor) of Astana Imangali Tasmagambetov, and they considered issues of cooperation between the capitals of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.