Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The international conference “Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Prospects for the development of strategic partnership and alliance” started in Tashkent on 27 December 2022.

Speaking at the event with a welcoming speech, the director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) Yerkin Tukumov emphasized that “the Uzbek-Kazakh strategic partnership over all these years has fully justified itself and naturally binds fraternal interstate relations. The existing mutual understanding makes it possible to continue to expand and deepen the palette of dialogue.”

At the same time, speaking about the characteristic features of bilateral partnership, Yerkin Tukumov highlighted several key aspects.

First, he stated, the common history, culture, geography that unites us in one way or another determines to build our relations in a special way, with a high level of mutual trust.

Second, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are the two largest states in the region, with the largest economies in Central Asia. The total GDP is estimated at more than US$260 billion, while the total GDP of the region is about US$350 billion.

Third, both countries have similar positions on international issues, a common vision of security threats and foreign policy actions.

According to the KazISS representative, today Astana and Tashkent are fruitfully cooperating in political, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres. Cooperation has been established at the intergovernmental and inter-parliamentary levels, the Supreme Interstate Council has been created, which will make the meetings of the leadership of the two countries more systemic.

It was emphasized that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan play a huge role in ensuring stability, security and economic well-being throughout Central Asia.

“Due to the openness that Tashkent has been showing lately, the atmosphere is seriously transforming in a positive direction. And, of course, the economic growth of Uzbekistan is a mutual benefit. What is good for Uzbeks is also good for Kazakhs. This is the only way to move forward in the global market. This is a very positive trend that stimulates the business community, including the Kazakh one,” Yerkin Tukumov emphasized.

The expert also focused on the dynamic development of Uzbek-Kazakh cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. “Days of Culture, various exhibitions are regularly held, centers for the study of the Kazakh and Uzbek languages are opened.”

In this context, he emphasized the need for further "development of people's diplomacy, to learn more about each other, including through our expert dialogue." In particular, according to Yerkin Tukumov, “it is important for the parties to activate the “second track – the expert track” of diplomacy,” especially given the fact that “Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have a positive background, we are connected by a common past.”

On 27 December 2022, Tashkent hosted an international conference on the topic “Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Prospects for the development of strategic partnership and alliance”, dedicated to the results of the visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan and high-level negotiations.

The event, organized by ISMI jointly with MICA in partnership with KazISS, was attended by the heads of the foreign ministries of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Institute of World Economy and Politics under the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of the diplomatic corps, experts from the "think tanks" of the two countries.