Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to Double Number of Border Checkpoints

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have agreed to increase the number of state border checkpoints from 15 to 30. This was announced by President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov following talks with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on 30 July in Cholpon-Ata.

The corresponding agreement is secured in the Protocol on Amendments and Additions to the Agreement between the Governments of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on State Border Checkpoints dated 24 July 2004.

The document is included in the package of bilateral agreements signed following the state visit of the head of Uzbekistan.

According to Sadyr Japarov, the parties also agreed to extend the period of mutual stay for citizens of both countries without registration to 15 days and supported the opening of a Consulate General of Kyrgyzstan in Andijan.

"Special attention was paid to issues of border cooperation. In your presence, the State Border Agreement, Protocols to the Agreement on Checkpoints, and on Mutual Travel of Citizens were signed. We have completely settled border issues, increased the number of checkpoints from 15 to 30, and extended the terms of mutual stay of citizens of the two states to 15 days," stated the President of Kyrgyzstan.

According to him, the reached agreements will create more favorable conditions for the movement of citizens, the development of trade, transit cargo, transport and logistics cooperation, tourism, and cultural-humanitarian exchanges, as well as contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of border regions.

The leaders of the two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to implementing major joint infrastructure projects, including the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway and the Kambarata HPP-1.

In addition, the parties agreed to intensify the activities of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz Development Fund to expand the financing of joint investment projects and support entrepreneurship.