Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Dec.24
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
Uzbek President Islam Karimov has signed a law "On ratification of the friendship and cooperation agreement between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan".
The law on ratification of the agreement was adopted by the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis (lower house of the Uzbek parliament) in August, 2013 and was approved by the upper house - the Senate in December.
Islam Karimov signed the law on Dec.23, the document was published by the country's central media on Dec.24.
The agreement was signed in June, 2013 in Tashkent during the official visit of Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev. The document sets out the basic principles and priorities of bilateral cooperation in political, trade, economic, transport and communication, cultural, humanitarian, military, technical, ecological and other spheres.
The document also confirms the single agreed position regarding the development of an equitable water use system in Central Asia, envisaging the solution of all problems in the hydro-energy sphere, including the construction of new hydro power facilities over trans-border rivers in accordance to the generally accepted norms of the international law and by taking into account the interests of all Central Asian countries.
Kazakhstan is one of the important trade partners of Uzbekistan. The volume of bilateral trade amounted to nearly $2.8 billion in 2012.
Currently around 180 enterprises with participation of Kazakh investors operate in Uzbekistan. Over 120 enterprises created with participation of Uzbek residents have been registered in Kazakhstan.
Over 810,000 Kazakhs reside in Uzbekistan and nearly 460,000 Uzbeks in Kazakhstan, according to statistical data.
Translated by L.Z.