Uzbekistan, Tashkent, May 21 / Trend, D.Azizov /
Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Eldor Aripov and Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan Boribay Zheksembin discussed preparations for the upcoming official visit of the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev to Uzbekistan, Uzbek Foreign Ministry said.
It is expected that during the President Nazarbayev's visit to Tashkent planned for June-July of this year, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will sign a strategic partnership agreement.
During the official visit of Uzbek President Islam Karimov to Kazakhstan in September 2012, the leaders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan confirmed their intention to continue the consistent implementation of the Economic Cooperation Strategy for 2007-2016, develop trade relations, promote the further development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
The Presidents stressed the need for a comprehensive strengthening of Uzbek-Kazakh cooperation in the military and law enforcement fields, including in the joint fight against terrorism, religious extremism, organized crime, drug trafficking, illegal arms trafficking and other transnational threats.
Kazakhstan is one of the most important economic partners of Uzbekistan. Trade and economic relations between the two countries are characterized by a dynamic and sustainable growth.
According to official statistics of Uzbekistan, in 2012 bilateral trade turnover grew by 9.6 percent - up to $2.76 billion.