During the talks, the sides exchanged views on current issues on the current agenda, as well as discussed strategic directions for the development of bilateral cooperation.

- Your first state visit as the President takes place during the days of Nauryz celebrations and the year of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our states. Kazakhstan is ready to create all conditions for the visit of the delegation from Uzbekistan to be productive," the Head of State said.

The President of Kazakhstan stressed that over a quarter of a century of cooperation, 100 agreements were signed in various fields, the key ones being the Treaty of Eternal Friendship and the Treaty on Strategic Partnership.

Nursultan Nazarbayev separately noted the contribution of the first President of Uzbekistan I. Karimov to the strengthening of relations between the two countries.

- The commonality of history, language and traditions, the neighborhood of our peoples predetermined close Kazakh-Uzbek interaction in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. Diasporas living in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan attach special importance to our relations. They are a "living bridge" between the two countries. Our policy on deepening friendship and cooperation with your country remains unchanged," the President of Kazakhstan noted.

The head of state called trade and economic cooperation between Astana and Tashkent the core of bilateral relations. Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed that trade between countries increased by 16% in physical terms despite the decline in the market prices by 9% in 2016.

- To date, about 800 active enterprises with participation of Uzbek capital are represented in Kazakhstan. A business forum is held at these hours in Astana, where 250 businessmen from each side take part. As a result, it is planned to adopt a package of about 75 commercial contracts," the President of Kazakhstan said.

The head of state noted that since the previous meeting with Samir Mirziyoyev in Samarkand, bilateral contacts in the spheres of industry, business, energy, transport, as well as space and tourism industries have significantly intensified.

At the same time, Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized the implementation of transit and transport cooperation, including the launch of high-speed rail Astana-Tashkent, as well as new air and bus flights.

At the end of the speech, the Head of the State thanked Sh. Mirziyoyev for taking a decision on full-scale participation of Uzbekistan in the world exhibition "EXPO-2017", expressing confidence that this will allow demonstrating the best achievements of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the world.

In turn, Sh. Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude to the leadership of Kazakhstan for confidential negotiations, which create the basis for the development of interstate relations.

"We regard this visit as an extension of the open dialogue that took place between us in Samarkand. Today's business forum is an indicator of serious intentions of the Uzbek side in the development of trade and economic relations," the President of Uzbekistan said.

The President of Uzbekistan emphasized the role of Nursultan Nazarbayev in strengthening the friendship of the peoples of the two states. He also noted the importance of establishing interparliamentary and interregional contacts.

At the end of the meeting, the heads of the two states gave a joint briefing for representatives of the media.

Following the results of the meeting, the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan signed the following documents:

- Joint declaration on further deepening of strategic partnership and strengthening of good-neighborliness between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan;

- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on interregional cooperation;

- Strategy of economic cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2017-2019;

- Protocol on the introduction of amendments and additions to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the avoidance of double taxation of income and property;

- Protocol on the introduction of amendments and additions to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on International Road Transport dated March 20, 2006;

- Program of cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2017-2018;

- Agreement between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan on military cooperation.

Source: akorda.kz