Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are discussing a date for the simultaneous reopening of the Gisht Kuprik and Zhibek Zholy border customs checkpoints, following the completion of construction work on the Kazakh side and preparations for the Uzbek checkpoint to resume operations.
The issue was discussed at a meeting held by Uzbekistan's Customs Committee, attended by the committee's First Deputy Chairman, G. Nasirov, and A. M. Kiikov, an adviser and representative of Kazakhstan's embassy.
The Kazakh delegation reported that construction and installation work at the Zhibek Zholy checkpoint had been completed and that preparations for its opening were under way.
Uzbek representatives, in turn, said the Gisht Kuprik checkpoint was ready to begin operations. They also presented video footage showing the facility's infrastructure and the surrounding area.
The meeting also addressed measures to increase the checkpoint's capacity, streamline border-crossing procedures and provide more convenient conditions for citizens and road transport.
The two sides agreed to continue working with the authorised bodies of both countries to coordinate the date for the official simultaneous reopening of the checkpoints.
Participants also discussed the current state of bilateral customs and trade and economic cooperation. They gave a positive assessment of trends in mutual trade turnover and cargo flows between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Both sides reaffirmed their readiness to continue simplifying control procedures, improving the passage of passengers, vehicles and goods, and increasing the efficiency of border crossing points.
