Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, paid a working visit to Khiva, Uzbekistan, where he participated in the inaugural meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (CMFA) of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The event gathered representatives from key government agencies of both countries to discuss the expansion of their strategic partnership.
The talks covered a broad spectrum of areas, including political, trade, economic, investment, transit, transport, water and energy, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their alliance based on shared values of friendship, brotherhood, and good neighborliness.
Murat Nurtleu highlighted that Kazakh-Uzbek relations are advancing steadily, driven by the political vision of their presidents. He pointed to the historic first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Astana, which resulted in the adoption of a ten-year Strategic Partnership and Alliance Program.
Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the long-term direction set by the heads of state for progressive cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral formats.
Kazakhstan remains one of Uzbekistan’s top three trading partners, with annual trade exceeding $4bn. Both nations committed to increasing this figure to $10bn by 2030, in line with previous agreements. Discussions also touched on launching the International Center for Industrial Cooperation "Central Asia" and expanding trade relations with Afghanistan through the newly opened Kazakhstan Trade Pavilion at the AIRITOM SEZ in Termez.
The ministers explored ways to enhance the transit and transport potential of the region, particularly by further developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. This corridor is crucial for expanding access to markets in the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe. Both sides pledged to modernize transport infrastructure and increase cargo transportation capacity.
Water and energy cooperation was also a key focus, with discussions on balancing mutual interests in shared water resources. Both sides reaffirmed support for the trilateral Kambarata-1 hydropower project, which involves Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The meeting also stressed the importance of strengthening cultural and educational exchanges. Recent initiatives, such as the unveiling of a monument to Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi in Astana and the successful hosting of Tashkent Days in Kazakhstan, have contributed to closer cultural ties. The ministers agreed to enhance collaboration in higher education, with institutions such as the South Kazakhstan University’s branch in Chirchik and the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers’ branch in Almaty playing a key role.
Tourism was another area of discussion, with plans to implement joint projects promoting the cultural heritage of both countries.
During the meeting, both sides aligned their positions on regional and international matters, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration within multilateral frameworks such as the Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Leaders and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.
At the end of the meeting, the two foreign ministers signed a protocol outlining key agreements and future cooperation plans.
As part of their visit, the ministers toured the historic city of Khiva, including the UNESCO-listed Ichan-Kala complex and the Palace of Nurullabay, further symbolizing the deep historical and cultural ties between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
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