On November 5, 2020, as part of a working visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic H.E. Mr. Ruslan A. Kazakbayev met with the Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and Foreign Economic Relations - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Mr. Sardor Umurzakov.

H.E. Mr. Sardor Umurzakov congratulated H.E. Mr. Ruslan A. Kazakbayev on his appointment to the post of head of the Foreign Ministry of Kyrgyzstan and wished him success in his work.

During the meeting, the Minister expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet and discuss topical issues of trade and economic cooperation, including the development of interregional and border ties.

The head of the foreign policy department noted that there is significant unrealized potential in the trade and economic sphere between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and expressed readiness to create favorable conditions for enhancing ties between business circles. A wide exchange of views took place on the launch of specific projects for the construction of trade and logistics centers in the border regions of the two countries and the opening of joint ventures for the purpose of industrial cooperation.

We considered the mechanisms for the effective use of the transport and transit potential of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan by accelerating the implementation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction project.

In order to increase the volume of trade between the countries, an agreement was reached to remove existing barriers that hinder mutual trade. The Kyrgyz side expressed interest and readiness to supply cement, coal, products of the Mailuu-Suu electric lamp plant, etc. to Uzbekistan. In turn, the Uzbek side expressed interest in increasing the volume of investments in Kyrgyzstan, in such areas as mechanical engineering, tourism, medicine, education and other industries. The meeting also discussed issues of the upcoming meetings of the Joint Kyrgyz-Uzbek Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (IGC) and the Council of Heads of Border Regions (CGPO) in order to develop comprehensive cooperation.