At the second meeting of the Expert Council of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, held in the capital of Kyrgyzstan and titled 'Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan: Strategic Partnership and Prospects for Its Further Development,' a significant improvement in bilateral relations was noted.
The delegation from Uzbekistan participated in the event, which included leaders and specialists from leading analytical centers, relevant state agencies, and representatives of the business community. Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute of Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISRS), addressed the participants, emphasizing the qualitative changes in ties between the two states.
According to Aripov, thanks to the strong political will of the leaders of both countries, all key and complex issues on the bilateral agenda have been successfully resolved. He called this a historic achievement, stating that for the first time in many decades, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan can focus their efforts not on overcoming the past, but on jointly shaping the future.
Economic interaction was also highlighted. Aripov noted that bilateral trade, which barely exceeded $100 million ten years ago, has now approached $1.2 billion, showing a growth of almost 40% in the last year alone. The parties aim to move from simply increasing trade volumes to deeper industrial cooperation and the creation of joint production capacities.
Regarding major infrastructure projects, Aripov emphasized the importance of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway line and the Kambarat-1 Hydroelectric Power Plant project. He stressed that these projects go beyond the bilateral agenda, as they are effectively shaping the new economic geography of Eurasia.
On the issue of transboundary water resources, Aripov reported that recent experience demonstrates a gradual decrease in the relevance of traditional division of interests between upstream and downstream countries. Instead, mutual consideration of interests and shared responsibility for common natural resources is observed.
Concluding his speech, Aripov noted the unprecedented growth in contacts between the citizens of the two countries. Over the last decade, the number of Kyrgyz citizens who visited Uzbekistan has increased more than sevenfold, reaching 3.3 million people last year, which was the highest figure among all incoming international tourist flows to the country.
The Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, held a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on July 20. During the discussion, the sides addressed areas of bilateral cooperation as well as upcoming contacts at the highest and high levels.
Both ministers noted that relations between Uzbekistan and India, based on strategic partnership, are steadily developing in all key areas.
Furthermore, the heads of the foreign ministries exchanged views regarding the schedule of future bilateral events and considered the possibility of further strengthening interaction within international organizations.
The Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Akram Aliyev, met with the Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Uzbekistan, Marion Edel, on July 17, 2026, to discuss deepening bilateral economic partnership.
During the meeting, the parties reviewed the current state and future prospects of interaction in the fields of trade, investment, and technology.
It was noted that bilateral trade turnover increased by 13.2% in 2025, reaching a volume of 1.4 billion US dollars. The volume of German investments implemented in Uzbekistan amounted to 6.4 billion US dollars.
Participants also discussed preparations for the next round of intergovernmental negotiations between Uzbekistan and Germany on cooperation for development. At the end of the meeting, both sides confirmed their readiness to continue practical work aimed at further strengthening bilateral cooperation in agreed areas.
The Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratlov, held a meeting with the Ambassador of Kuwait to Uzbekistan, Turki Khalid Hamad Al-Mikrad, on July 14, 2026.
During the negotiations, both sides focused on the further development of trade, economic, and investment interaction, as well as the implementation of new joint projects.
Officials reviewed ways to increase bilateral trade, promote Uzbek products in the Kuwaiti market, organize business missions and exhibitions, and strengthen ties between the business communities of the two countries.
The meeting identified promising areas for cooperation, including the banking and financial sector, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, industry, and services. Special attention was paid to interaction with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development regarding the financing of infrastructure and logistics projects.
Furthermore, the parties discussed preparations for holding an Uzbek-Kuwaiti business forum and activating the work of the Intergovernmental Commission. The third meeting of this commission is scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan in the autumn of 2026.
