Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan strengthen cooperation in regional security
The eighth round of consultations between the Secretariat of the Security Councils of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan took place in Shymkent. The main focus was placed on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in regional security and countering modern threats, Kazinform reports.
The Deputy Chair of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aida Balayeva and the Secretary of the Security Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Viktor Makhmudov, as well as representatives of relevant state authorities attended the negotiations.
The parties reviewed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, including countering international terrorism and religious extremism, preventing youth radicalization, combating organized crime, illicit drug trafficking, illegal migration, and cybercrime.
The participants focused on the new challenges associated with the development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as the need to improve joint mechanisms for responding to emerging threats.
The negotiation agenda also included water and environmental security, the rational use of transboundary water resources, and emergency prevention. In this regard, the significance of the initiatives proposed by the President of Kazakhstan to establish the International Water Association within the UN system and the Regional Center for Forecasting Climate and Man-Made Emergencies was noted.
Following the meeting, Aida Balayeva and Viktor Makhmudov signed the protocol of the eighth round of consultations and agreed to establish a joint expert group to ensure its consistent implementation.
The Consultations between the Secretariats of the Security Councils are held regularly in accordance with the approved cooperation plan.
Following the event, the heads of the delegations took part in a tree-planting ceremony at the Dendrological Park named after Asanbay Askarov. This initiative has become a symbol of friendship, good-neighborliness, and the desire of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to strengthen their long-term partnership.
Aziza Alimova, UzA
