Uzbekistan ratifies strategic partnership deal with Kazakhstan
By Aynur Jafarova
The Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan's Oliy Majlis adopted a law on ratification of the agreement on strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on August 15.
The law adopted by the members of parliament will be sent to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis for further consideration.
The agreement was signed in Tashkent in June, 2013 during the official visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Uzbekistan.
The agreement consolidates the main principles and priority spheres of bilateral cooperation in political, trade, economic, transport and communication, cultural-humanitarian, military-technical, environmental and other fields.
The agreement sets out the obligation of each party to refrain from using force or a threat of force in inter-state relations, not to enter into military alliances or participate in any groups of countries, not to take any actions, including the conclusion of agreements with third countries that are prejudicial to the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the other party.
The document also confirms unified coordinated position regarding the development of a fair system of water management in Central Asia, which envisages resolution of all issues in the water and energy sector, including the construction of new hydraulic structures on trans-boundary rivers, in accordance with universally recognized norms of international law and taking into account the interests of all Central Asian countries.
Kazakhstan is one of the important trade partners of Uzbekistan. The trade turnover between the two countries totaled nearly $2.1 billion, which is 11 percent more than in 2011.
Kazakhstan's exports to Uzbekistan in 2012 amounted to $1.344 billion (up 14 percent), while the import from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan amounted to $817 million (up six percent).
Currently, Uzbekistan has 180 companies with participation of domestic investors. In turn, over 120 enterprises established with the participation of Uzbekistan's residents are registered in Kazakhstan.
According to statistics, more than 810,000 Kazakhs live in Uzbekistan while about 460,000 Uzbeks live in Kazakhstan.