On May 5, the 20th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation chaired by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and involving the heads of government agencies and businessmen from the two states took place. The participants discussed a wide range of aspects of cooperation in trade, industry, transport, energy, agriculture and water management, the press office of the Government of Kazakhstan reported to CentralAsia.news.
In his speech, Smailov noted the importance of boosting trade relations through improving transit and transport infrastructure. He focused on developing the China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan route, the throughput capacity of which will be increased through implementing major railway projects. These include the Darbaza-Maktaaral line, a bypass around Almaty and the Dostyk station.
The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan emphasised that the industrial sector is a priority area of bilateral cooperation. He noted that the roadmap, covering all priority areas, including the implementation of ambitious projects worth $10 billion, was adopted following the talks between the leaders of the two countries in Tashkent.
The need to bolster bilateral relations in ecology and water use was emphasised, as they have a direct impact on livelihoods of the people of the two states.
Following the meeting, the parties signed the bilateral documents, including the Minutes of the meeting that consolidated the agreements reached at the meeting, the roadmap to accelerate construction of the Central Asia International Centre for Industrial Cooperation and the Joint Action Plan on labour activity and the protection of the rights of migrant workers.
