President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in a trilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov in the city of Khujand on March 31. The Presidential press service reported this.
At the beginning of the meeting, the heads of state congratulated each other on the blessed Eid al-Fitr and the spring awakening and renewal season - Navruz, wishing peace, prosperity, and development to our brotherly peoples.
Our President sincerely congratulated the Tajik and Kyrgyz sides on the definitive resolution of all issues and the signing of the agreement on the delimitation of the State border.
This document, moreover, was highlighted for its role in ensuring stability and consistent development and enhancing the international prestige of the entire region with the signing of the agreement regarding the junction point of the three countries' state borders. The ceremoniously unveiled Friendship Stele was noted as a new symbol of the strengthening good neighborliness, trust, and strategic partnership between the fraternal countries.
The President of Uzbekistan particularly highlighted the priority directions of practical cooperation.
First and foremost, this is the continuation of high-level active and reliable relations.
This week, the first "Central Asia - European Union" summit and the Climate Forum dedicated to the region's common ecological threats will take place in Samarkand.
In May, a summit with the Gulf Arab states is scheduled, and in September, the seventh Consultative Meeting of the leaders of the Central Asian states will be held.
In this regard, the importance of continuing consultations through the foreign ministries to thoroughly prepare the agenda for upcoming events and develop common approaches was emphasized.
Special attention was given to developing cooperation in border areas.
In recent years, the volume of trade between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has increased more than tenfold, nearly half of which accounts for border areas.
Therefore, the necessity of comprehensive modernization and expansion of customs points at the borders, forming convenient, modern trade and logistics infrastructure was pointed out.
The suggestion was made to study the issue of establishing a trilateral trade platform and launching a permanent exhibition-fair of industrial and agricultural products.
Another direction is industrial cooperation projects.
Today, Uzbekistan's enterprises and private companies are actively investing in organizing modern production capacities in neighboring countries.
Supporting cooperation, our country's leader expressed readiness to gradually increase the capital of joint investment funds.
It was agreed to continue the work on developing transport connections between the countries. This includes increasing the number of flights and their geographical coverage, and introducing new bus routes between cities in border areas.
Major regional projects in "green" energy and transport sectors, as well as water and environmental programs, were the focus of attention.
The President of Uzbekistan specifically emphasized the need for governments to work more actively in the economic direction, delivering prompt, real results aimed at improving the well-being of our peoples.
These days, a number of cultural-humanitarian events are taking place in the city of Khujand, which are noted to serve strengthening friendship and mutual understanding among our peoples, especially among the youth.
Our state leader proposed holding joint concerts and friendship festivals in border areas during the days of the Navruz holiday every year, expressing readiness to organize such events in the city of Fergana next year.
At the end of the meeting, a historic agreement regarding the junction point of the state borders of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan was signed, and a Joint Declaration of the three countries' leaders was adopted.
