Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin noted the high organization of the forum, expressed sincere gratitude for traditional hospitality and noted that the regular holding of the forum on interregional cooperation was designated on personal initiative and political will of the First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The first forum was successfully held in Shymkent in November 2018.

Thanks to expansion of cooperation in leading sectors of the economy, the trade turnover in 2019 almost doubled and exceeded 3.3 billion USD. The Presidents of the two countries assigned the government the task of further expanding trade and economic relations in the coming years and bringing the volume of mutual trade to five billion USD in the coming years, and then to 10 billion USD. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have all the potential to achieve these goals.

Last year, cooperation between regional leaders of the two countries intensified, and 12 mutual visits of regional delegations were organized. As a result, the trade between regions increased by 40 percent.

The Second Interregional Cooperation Forum between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan is important in implementation of projects in trade-economic, investment, transport, communication, agricultural, tourism, educational spheres, and in expansion of mutual partnership between the regions.

Representatives of relevant ministries and agencies of the two countries discussed ensuring timely implementation of agreements reached during the visits of Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as issues of further expansion of cooperation in trade-economic, investment, transport, energy and agricultural spheres.

Documents are expected to be signed following the discussions.