President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon continued negotiations in an expanded format.

The meeting was attended by members of official delegations, heads of ministries and agencies, hokims of border regions of the two countries.

It was noted that thanks to the political will and joint efforts of the Leaders of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the relations of fraternal countries have moved to a qualitatively new level of equal and mutually beneficial practical cooperation.

“We have carried out a colossal work together, which has already entered our relationship chronicles”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed.

The parties expressed their firm commitment and readiness to implement concrete measures to deepen the strategic partnership.

The main attention was paid to further expansion of the trade-economic collaboration, the deepening of industrial cooperation, the development of transport and interregional interaction, the effective use of the huge energy potential, the continuation of cultural-humanitarian exchanges, and the strengthening of partnership in countering modern challenges and threats.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that despite the positive dynamics, it is important to find new growth points for a twofold increase in trade turnover next year. To this end, as the Head of the state noted, it is important to finalize the issues of lifting exemptions from the free trade regime and removing non-tariff barriers soon.

It is also necessary to increase the volume and expand the range of mutual supplies, to look for opportunities for joint access to the markets of third countries.

It was also proposed to develop the creation of a joint center for cross-border trade.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that Uzbekistan is interested in enhancing industrial cooperation between the regions and the leading enterprises of the two countries.

“There are real examples of successful cooperation and concrete plans for the future.

We are talking about organizing the assembly of Uzbekistan vehicles, the production of modern transformers and agricultural equipment, expanding the production of household appliances, building materials, yarn and textiles, and other joint projects in our countries”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

In this regard, it is necessary to organize the effective activities of the established joint investment company based on advanced foreign experience and make maximum use of its opportunities to promote projects.

It was emphasized that the strategic area is cooperation in transport and transit traffic. President of Uzbekistan proposed to effectively use the transit potential of each other, expand aviation and resume bus service between the cities of the two countries.

The President of Uzbekistan noted the importance of establishing a direct systemic dialogue in the context of the regions and districts of the two countries.

The First Forum of Regions held in Bokhtar, Khatlon region yesterday, once again showed the effectiveness of cooperation in this format.

“Regional leaders should agree on step-by-step action plans and hold meetings at least once a month to resolve issues quickly”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed.

Issues of effective use of huge hydropower potential of the two countries and the continuation of a constructive and mutually beneficial dialogue on water use issues were discussed.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev agreed to continue traditionally active humanitarian exchanges. The Head of the state proposed to implement a program of joint cultural events timed to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, as well as to organize a Youth Festival of the two countries, to publish anthologies of modern Uzbek and Tajik literature in Dushanbe and Tashkent.

The parties noted the importance of strengthening cooperation in combating modern challenges and threats, especially against the background of the current situation in Afghanistan.

It was emphasized that Uzbekistan and Tajikistan support the promotion of the peace negotiation process in Afghanistan, as well as the implementation of projects and programs aimed at socio-economic development of this country, including active involvement in the regional economic partnership.

The parties confirmed their readiness to continue cooperation and mutual support within the framework of international and regional structures, such as the UN, CIS, SCO, OIC, ECO, IFAS and others.

President Emomali Rahmon emphasized that Tajikistan values the achieved level of cooperation with fraternal Uzbekistan, and this is a great merit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He noted that during the talks, specific guidelines for the upcoming work were identified and their results will become a new factor in further deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

UzA