KazISS Hosts Kazakh-Uzbek Expert Council for Regional Cooperation Strengthening
The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) recently hosted the Kazakh-Uzbek Expert Council in Astana on Aug. 2, focusing on various mechanisms for strengthening interconnectedness, regional transport policy, industrial cooperation, logistics, climate change, and environmental safety. The event was organized ahead of the visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Kazakhstan and the sixth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States.
Yerkin Tukumov, the director of KazISS, highlighted the importance of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as the drivers of regional cooperation and integration due to their economic and geographical potential. He emphasized the need for strategic cooperation to ensure the success of regional Central Asian integration. The Kazakh-Uzbek expert council aims to serve as a platform for discussing specific issues and generating ideas for joint development.
During the meeting, a memorandum was initiated to establish the Kazakh-Uzbek expert council, focusing on the state and prospects of strategic partnership, bilateral alliance, mechanisms for strengthening interconnectedness, and new directions for cooperation. Eldor Aripov, the director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan (ISRS), expressed high hopes for the council and its role in promoting substantive and meaningful dialogue on important areas of bilateral cooperation.
Discussions at the event centered on mutual economic development, industrial cooperation, transport interconnectedness, and integration into global value chains. The potential for developing cross-border cooperation, including high-speed train routes between major cities, was also highlighted as a key priority for enhancing connectivity between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Addressing climate change and environmental safety were also key topics on the agenda of the expert council. Speakers explored green energy development, water diplomacy, and shared energy partnership strategies between the two countries. Emphasis was placed on revising agricultural practices in response to climate change and ensuring access to water in Central Asia, given the growing demand for energy in the region.
The event also called for enhanced scientific cooperation between KazISS and ISRS to conduct joint research on topics such as Central Asian identity and common policy formation. Key challenges facing the region, including geopolitical crises and global economic issues, were also discussed, emphasizing the need for collaboration in addressing these complex issues.
Representatives from various organizations, including the Center for Economic Research and Reforms of Uzbekistan, the International Association of Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the Kazenergy Association, and the Regional Environmental Center of Central Asia (CAREC), were present at the event. The discussions highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and partnership between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to drive regional integration and development.
