Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the most two important states of Central Asia region, establish strong and coherent relations serving for regional stability at all levels along with bilateral partnerships. In this context, the official visit of the President of Uzbekistan, Mr. Şevket Mirziyoyev, to the city of Nur-Sultan on 6 December 2021, upon the invitation of the President of Kazakhstan, Mr. Kasım-Cömert Tokayev, shows that relations have reached a new level.
In this sense, the “Declaration of Joint Relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan” signed after the meetings between the leaders has gained a new status of relations between the parties. Thus, it was decided to establish the Inter-State Supreme Council, the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Council and the Council of Foreign Ministers.[1]
Besides, during the meetings, both leaders of the countries signed packages of intergovernmental agreements in the fields of economy, energy, transporation, communication, science and space exploration, defense, emergency prevention and the judicial system. Moreover, it has been announced that it is aimed to increase the trade volume between the two countries to 10 billion dollars. In addition to this, the two countries announced that they will take steps to create favorable conditions for their citizens, such as arranging additional flights between capitals and major cities and creating new railway routes.[2]
Another example of the cooperation developing on the Nur-Sultan-Tashkent line is the joint projects in the textile, automotive, mining and construction sectors. In this context, the 4th meeting of the Uzbek-Kazakh Business Forum and the Uzbek-Kazakh Business Council was held in Nur-Sultan on December 4, 2021. After the aforementioned meetings, trade agreements and bilateral agreements totaling $5.9 billion were signed.[3]
During the meeting of the Presidents, Mr. Mirziyoyev, summarizing the commercial and economic relations, stated that Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are natural partners and their economies do not compete, but complement each other.[4] The aforementioned developments and the aforementioned statement of Mr. Mirziyoyev completely refute the rumors about the regional leadership rivalry between the two countries. Besides, at this point, it should be drawn attention to the development needing of the local and regional economies rather than competition. In this sense, the emergence of new C5+ formats and the activation of intra-regional economic ties are a natural result of strengthening regional integration. The dynamically developing economies of Nur-Sultan and Tashkent, together with the fact that they constitute about 80% of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP), increase the potential of attracting foreign financial institutions to the region, encouraging all regional economic growth.
Along with this, the efforts of consolidation of the relations between Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan do not remain limited only with the financial expectations. This cooperation has two important effects on the political situation in Central Asia. These can be listed as follows:
- Due to the deepening of the strategic partnership on the Nur-Sultan-Tashkent line, a completely new political atmosphere has emerged in the region, which is expressed in the desire and confidence in the ability to solve their own problems independently. Thus, as a result of joint efforts, Central Asian countries came together three times for consultation meetings to discuss regional cooperation issues. The ceasefire on the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border is the most important example of these joint efforts.
- The attempt to improve interaction between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan has traditionally been based on strengthening the role of Central Asia in ensuring global political and economic security in the region. In fact, at the current stage, Central Asia is constantly having to solve an important problem for itself. Therefore, on the one hand, states, which are mentioned as the center of international stability and an integral part of the global economy, continue to strengthen their own positions; on the other hand, it is necessary to minimize the effects of factors that will create insecurity in Central Asia.
In conclusion, the first overseas visit of the President of Uzbekistan, Mirziyoyev, to Kazakhstan after his re-election in October 2021, reveals the seriousness of the intentions of the two countries for economic development, political stability and security. In this context, it is clear that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan can become the locomotive of the regional economic process and the guarantor of regional security and stability in close cooperation.
[1]“Главные темы переговоров делегаций Узбекистана и Казахстана”, Sputnik Uzbekistan, https://uz.sputniknews.ru/20211206/glavnye-temy-peregovorov-delegatsiy-uzbekistana-i-kazaxstana-foto-21669266.html, (Date of Accession: 08.12.2021).
[2] “Шавкат Мирзиёев возвратился в Ташкент, завершив государственный визит в Казахстан”, SNG Today, https://sng.today/tashkent/20286-zavershilsja-gosudarstvennyj-vizit-prezidenta-uzbekistana-v-kazahstan.html, (Date of Accession: 08.12.2021).
[3] “В Нур-Cултане состоялись Узбекско-Казахстанский бизнес-форум и 4-е заседание Узбекско-Казахстанского делового совета”, Özbekistan Cumhuriyeti Yatırım ve Dış Ticaret Bakanlığı, https://mift.uz/ru/news/the-uzbek-kazakh-business-forum-and-the-4th-meeting-of-the-uzbek-kazakh-business-council-were-held-in-nursultan, Date of Accession (: 08.12.2021).
[4] “«Наши экономики не конкурируют, а дополняют друг друга». Шавкат Мирзиёев и Касым-Жомарт Токаев провели переговоры”, Uzreport, https://uzreport.news/politics/nashi-ekonomiki-ne-konkuriruyut-a-dopolnyayut-drug-druga-shavkat-mirziyoev-i-kasim-jomart-, (Date of Accession: 08.12.2021).
