Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 24 September, a delegation from Uzbekistan led by Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan (ISMI), participated in the first meeting of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz Expert Council held in Cholpon-Ata.

The event, organized by ISMI in collaboration with the National Institute of Strategic Initiatives under the President of Kyrgyzstan (NISI), saw participation from experts and academics from both Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Experts from the Azerbaijani Center for Analysis of International Relations were also present as guests.

It’s noteworthy that the Memorandum establishing the Uzbek-Kyrgyz Expert Council was signed on July 30 of this year. The creation of the Council serves as a significant mechanism for providing expert support for the practical implementation of agreements reached during the Uzbek-Kyrgyz summit held on July 18-19.

The primary agenda of the first expert council meeting focused on discussing the outcomes of President Sadyr Japarov’s recent state visit to Uzbekistan and exploring new avenues for expert interaction in the near future.

In his welcoming speech, Eldor Aripov emphasized that the summit of the leaders of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan was particularly significant. An important decision was made to establish an Intergovernmental Council aimed at systematizing and regularizing political dialogue.

He noted that breakthrough agreements were reached, aimed at developing long-term cooperation in strategically important areas such as energy, transportation, and light industry.

Aripov also highlighted the positive dynamics in trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. To double mutual trade turnover, the leaders of both states adopted an Action Plan for increasing trade volumes for the period 2024-2030, which includes establishing trading houses in the capitals and forming portfolios of export-import contracts.

He specifically pointed out that citizens of both countries are already experiencing the intense and progressive nature of bilateral interaction, benefiting from it in real terms. For instance, two new border customs checkpoints—"Uchkurgan-Kensai," connecting Namangan and Jalalabad regions, and "Karasu-Kara-Suu," linking Andijan and Osh regions—have been opened. The latter, which had been closed since 2010, has a daily capacity of 12,000 people.

According to Aripov, the reopening significantly facilitates travel for Kyrgyz citizens, reducing the distance from Osh to Jalalabad from 120 km to just 19 km via transit through Uzbekistan.

Sanjar Mukhanbetov, Director of NISI, remarked that Uzbek-Kyrgyz relations are currently at an unprecedented height. He emphasized the importance of preserving and enhancing the achievements made possible by the established alliance and the sincere, trusting relationships between the leaders of both nations.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged comprehensive views on the prospects for building mutually beneficial cooperation. Particular attention was given to the need for a more in-depth study of issues related to deepening industrial cooperation and the complementarity of the two economies.

In conclusion, the parties expressed their readiness to continue collaborative efforts to identify new directions and drivers for the development of Uzbek-Kyrgyz interaction. A Work Plan for the Expert Council for 2025 was signed, outlining participation in joint events, preparation for the upcoming 8th Central Asian Expert Forum, and the establishment of cooperation in other promising areas of mutual interest.