Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 19 March, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation with the National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The discussion focused on pressing issues of bilateral cooperation and regional interaction.

At the beginning of the conversation, the two leaders exchanged warm greetings on the occasion of the upcoming Navruz holiday, wishing each other good health, well-being, and success, while expressing hopes for peace and prosperity for the peoples of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the steady development of Uzbek-Turkmen relations, which are based on the principles of friendship, trust, good neighborliness, and strategic partnership. Last year, mutual trade turnover exceeded $1 billion. Industrial, energy, transport, agricultural, and water management cooperation continues to expand, along with collaboration in other sectors of the economy.

The two countries are jointly developing the Shavat–Dashoguz border trade zone, strengthening interregional ties, and deepening cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

Special attention was given to regional collaboration, including preparations for key international events. The leaders exchanged views on the agenda of the upcoming Central Asia Plus summit in Samarkand and the next Consultative Meeting of Regional Heads of State in Tashkent.

President Mirziyoyev also emphasized the significance of the forum scheduled to take place in Ashgabat in December as part of the International Year of Peace and Trust, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly at Turkmenistan's initiative, along with other planned international events.