In addition to addressing the border issues, the two Republics intend to promote partnerships in industry and logistics.
The new president of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov visited Uzbekistan for a state visit on March 11-12. Along the traditional topics related to economic and transport partnerships, the leaders of the two Republics agreed on the early delimitation of borders.
It would take three month to resolve the ‘border issue’, Japarov and Shavkat Mirziyoyev said initially. This process can hardly be called easy. How all this will be resolved is still unknown. However, there is every reason to believe that the visit to Uzbekistan was fruitful in terms of future prospects. In an interview with the staff of CentralAsia.news, an independent expert Yevgeny Kudryats clearly stated that relations between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan should reach a new level.
Building partnerships
This was the expert opinion that had formed after the visit of the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov to Uzbekistan this March, our interlocutor noted.
“A large number of important documents were signed during this visit, which will help relations between the Republics significantly improve and reach a qualitatively new level,” Kudryats said.
In addition to the border agreement, the expert mentioned a number of agreements, which, in his opinion, would be a milestone in the interactions between the two Republics.
The parties agreed to create the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan Development Fund with the capital of US$ 50 million at the first stage. It is planned to build a corn processing plant in Chui Region; this project cost is US$ 100 million. Concrete production will be launched in Fergana Region.
Bishkek and Tashkent also intend to cooperate in the fruit and vegetable processing industry, which provides for the implementation of a number of transport and logistics projects. We are talking about an amount exceeding US$ 35 million.
History and perspectives
Commenting on the outcomes of Japarov’s visit, Kudriats emphasised that the trip to Uzbekistan was not a turning point in the history of bilateral relations. In his opinion, 2017 was more groundbreaking.
“A turning point in relations between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan was 2017, when the two countries adopted the Declaration of Friendship. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project and the roadmap aimed at expanding cooperation in various sectors play an important role,” the expert said.
As for the prospects, the expert predicted that bilateral trade would increase to one billion dollars this year.
Kudriats believes that the relations between the two states have the areas to continue partnerships. The first area that deserves attention is the tourism sector. According to our interlocutor, Central Asia is of interest to foreign tourists, so the countries need to cooperate.
The second area is light industry, where Kyrgyzstan can become an effective partner of Uzbekistan.
Agriculture should not be ignored, Kudryats says. This sector has recently been rapidly developing and demands mutually beneficial cooperation, and the transport corridor of Uzbekistan opens the ‘gate’ to new markets for Kyrgyzstan.
“In conclusion, I would like to remind that the Republics established diplomatic relations in 1993, and 3 years later the states signed the Treaty of Eternal Friendship. However, the isolation policy of Uzbekistan has hardly been conducive to improving relations with Kyrgyzstan,” the expert added.
