Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Aug.14 / Trend, D. Azizov /
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov will visit Kazakhstan on an official visit in autumn this year, a government source told Trend on Tuesday.
Issues of preparation for Uzbek leader's visit to Astana are included in the agenda of the Uzbek-Kazakh ministerial political consultations, which are underway at present (Aug.13-14) in Tashkent, an official said.
It was reported that the delegation of Kazakhstan is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister, Amangeldy Zhumabayev, while from the Uzbek side - Deputy Foreign Minister Komil Rashidov.
The sides will discuss issues of trade and economic relations and the further development of cooperation in the sphere of culture.
Kazakhstan is one of the important trade partners of Uzbekistan. More than half of trade turnover with the region's countries accounts for this country. In 2011 the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $2.7 billion.
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan play a significant role in addressing many fundamental issues on ensuring security, stability and sustainable development in the region as a whole.
Interaction within international and regional organizations, as well as positive dynamics of mutual trade and economic cooperation is evidence of development of the relations between the two countries.
According to both countries' experts, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have significant untapped potential for further development of bilateral trade.
There is a solid legal base consisting of 140 signed documents between the states, and the Economic Cooperation Strategy is valid until 2016.