Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Deepen Strategic Partnership

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent a letter to Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, according to the press secretary of the Uzbek head of state Sherzod Asadov, who published the full text of the message.

In his address, Tokayev expressed gratitude for the warm reception during his working visit to Bukhara, noting the “exceptional hospitality and cordiality.” He stated that the intensive program of the visit was highly substantive and that the negotiations, in his assessment, were comparable in significance to a full-scale official visit in terms of long-term political outcomes.

The Kazakh leader said that upon returning to Astana, he issued relevant instructions to implement the agreements reached and to apply Uzbekistan’s experience in various areas. He separately highlighted the importance of the joint environmental initiative “Clean Air.”

According to Tokayev, the consistent implementation of the agreed objectives will further strengthen the strategic partnership and allied relations between the two countries. He also thanked the Uzbek president for the archival materials provided, noting their significance for Kazakhstan’s cultural and historical heritage.

The President of Kazakhstan emphasized that the gesture reflects mutual respect for shared history and contributes to strengthening ties between the peoples of both countries.

Earlier, during talks in Bukhara, the two sides focused on cooperation in the rational use of water resources and the development of regional environmental projects, including the “Clean Air” initiative in border areas.

Commenting on the initiative, Tokayev noted its relevance for major cities in Kazakhstan as well. He drew attention to the environmental situation in Almaty, which he described as one of the most polluted cities, and stressed the need for urgent measures, including greater accountability of local authorities and businesses for environmental protection.