Azernews.Az

By Abdul Kerimkhanov

The Minister of Uzbek Foreign Affairs, Abdulaziz Kamilov, met with the Minister of Tajik Foreign Affairs, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, who arrived in Samarkand for the first ministerial meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue with Afghanistan on January 12.

The parties stressed that the exchange of visits at the highest level in 2018 opened a new chapter in bilateral strategic partnership relations.

The ministers reviewed proposals for the schedule and agenda for upcoming joint events in 2019, including at the parliamentary, governmental and other levels.

It was emphasized that in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, particular importance is attached to the expansion of mutual trade, which in January-November 2018, grew by 62 percent compared to the same period of 2017.

In this context, a proposal was considered to further increase bilateral trade, expand the range of mutual deliveries.

The ministers also exchanged views on the practical aspects of the participation of the Tajik delegation in the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia in Tashkent.

During the conversation, the parties noted with satisfaction that the opening of borders for two countries’ citizens for visa-free travel for up to 30 days was warmly supported by the peoples of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The meeting also addressed other issues of bilateral relations and international politics.

The talks were attended by the Ambassador of Tajikistan Sodik Imomi.

Having come to power in December 2016, the current head of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, firmly stated that he intends to improve relations with neighbors. The Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced "deep changes in the Tajik-Uzbek relations." in November 2017.

The interrupted air communication between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan was resumed in 2017, continued the work of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation and on the delimitation and demarcation of the interstate border.

Since the beginning of 2018, more than 10 checkpoints have opened on the border of the two countries, and Uzbekistan has restored the Galab-Amuzang railway line.

About 700,000 tourists from Uzbekistan visited Tajikistan in January-June 2018. Approximately the same number of Tajik citizens visited Uzbekistan, which indicates a positive dynamic in the development of relations between states.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

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