Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan took an important step last week to strengthen regional cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region.

On 3 November 2022, the next round of political consultations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic was held in Bishkek.

Foreign Ministers of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov and Kyrgyzstan’s Jeenbek Kulubaev discussed topical issues of Uzbek-Kyrgyz bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The importance of continuing a constructive political dialogue on the unconditional implementation of the agreements reached between the heads of the two states was noted.

Particular attention was paid to the preparation of joint events at the highest level, including the upcoming state visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Kyrgyz Republic.

An agreement was also reached on the development and approval of the Action Plan ("Roadmap") to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries.

An exchange of views took place on the issues of delimitation of the State border between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

It was emphasized that the completion of the legal registration of the state border line on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual benefit and good neighborliness is in the interests of both the two countries and the whole of Central Asia.

The presence of significant potential in the field of economic cooperation was noted. In particular, the parties agreed to take measures to increase the volume of mutual trade and expand its range, enhance the activities of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and expand contacts between business entities and regions.

The issues of implementing major joint infrastructure and energy projects, including the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, were discussed separately.

Mutual interest in holding a number of joint events in the cultural and humanitarian direction was emphasized.

During the visit of the delegation of Uzbekistan to Bishkek, the following were signed:

- Agreement on separate sections of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz state border;

- Agreement on joint management of water resources of the Andijan (Kampirabad) reservoir;

- Agreement between the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Water Resources Service under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic on cooperation on water management issues;

- Agreement on cooperation between the International Institute of Central Asia and the Diplomatic Academy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic;

- Memorandum of Cooperation between the Uzarchiv Agency and the Ministry of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz Republic.

A joint statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and a Program of Cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic for 2023-2024 were also adopted.