Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Director of the International Institute of Central Asia (MICA) Javlon Vakhabov held a meeting via videoconference with Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KISS) Erkin Tukumov.

At the beginning of the conversation, the parties noted the progressive development of Uzbek-Kazakh relations of strategic partnership and alliance. Intensive cooperation between both countries in the areas of trade and investment, transport communications, industrial cooperation, and interaction along border regions is reflected in regular meetings at the highest and high levels. One of the main goals set by the heads of state in this direction is to increase trade turnover from US$4.4 billion to US$10 billion.

During the meeting, the importance of interaction between MICA and KISS in conducting joint events on key aspects of bilateral and regional development within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement between the institutions, signed on 2 December 2021 in Astana, was also emphasized.

In addition, the parties exchanged views on the upcoming VII Central Asian Expert Forum in Kazakhstan. This conference has been held since 2018 by leading analytical institutions of the countries of the region in cooperation with the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia on an annual basis.

At the end of the meeting, the heads of the think tanks confirmed their readiness to further deepen research cooperation, as well as to develop a comprehensive program between MICA and KISS for 2024, including holding joint events, organizing round tables and sharing experience.

KISS is a state forecasting and analytical institution created in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 16 June 1993. The Institute heads the three leading analytical centers in the Caucasus, Central and South Asia (out of 58 centers). The main function of the KazISS is analytical, research and expert support for the activities of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in strategic directions of the state’s domestic and foreign policy.