Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 18
By Ali Mustafayev – Trend:
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s visit to Uzbekistan on September 16 and the following agreements signed by the two countries illustrate serious intentions to develop the existing cooperation and enhance the trade and economic relations.
“The agreements signed in the military, economic, political and cultural spheres will surely contribute towards future cooperation of the two important Central Asian states and enhance the existing trade and economic opportunities within the regional cooperation spectrum,” Resul Yalcin, specialist in the politics of Central Asia, told Trend.
He added that regional cooperation was also an important agenda item during the high-level discussions, but the full potential of such cooperation is yet to be realized.
“Bilateral contacts in business, energy, transport and tourism will continue to grow. The two countries have launched a high speed Astana-Tashkent train, as well as new air and bus services. They also have signed agreements to develop a closer cooperation in cultural and humanitarian areas given the legacy of language, history and traditions, as well as important roles of diasporas both in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,” Yalcin said.
Nazarbayev’s visit to Uzbekistan marked a significant event since the two countries made decisive steps in strengthening the cooperation of regional importance.
However, Yalcin believes that despite the significant steps already taken by both countries, the cooperation should be widened to include other states in the region.