TASHKENT. March 10. KAZINFORM /Kurmat Samarkhan/ Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are recognized as the leading states of Central Asian region in the contemporary international arena. Being neighbors the two states are connected both in economic and social spheres. On the eve of the official visit of the Kazakh President to Tashkent Kazakh Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Uzbekistan Boribay Zheksembin told about the aspects of bilateral relations of the two countries in the interview to a Kazinform correspondent.

Mr. Zheksembin, how can you evaluate the current status of bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan? What are further prospects of cooperation development?

In its foreign policy Kazakhstan lays emphasis on mutually beneficial relations with Uzbekistan possessing huge political, economic and human potential. Our countries have always strived to work jointly and find compromises that provided firm and sustainable relations. The fact that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are the leading states of Central Asia in the context of the territories, population, economies and natural resources is the main factor of bilateral relations.

It is worthy of note that the Treaty on Eternal Friendship signed by the states is the highest form of alliance relations. And in order to witness the good neighborhood relations Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were one of the first CIS states to sign the Treaty on Delimitation of the State Borders.

Besides, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan successfully interact within such international organizations as the SCO, CICA, CIS and CSTO.

Kazakhstan chairs the OSCE in 2010. Our country was a collective candidate from the CIS to the post and it will respect the recommendations and opinions of its partners on the Commonwealth. Holding of the OSCE Summit in Astana in 2010 is one of the main priorities of the Kazakhstan's OSCE chairmanship. In this regard, the Kazakh side recons on the support of the idea of holding the Summit.

The economic issues represent an important element of bilateral relations. Could you tell about the mechanisms and measures on increase of trade and economic contacts in detail?

To date a solid contractual basis including over 60 interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements covering all spheres of economic cooperation was formed. The sides signed such fundamental documents as the Agreement on Single Economic Space between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Agreement on reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, Strategy of Economic Cooperation for 2007-2016, Program of Economic Cooperation for 2006-2010 and a range of other documents in the field of investments protection, customs affairs, banking system, etc.

Kazakhstan ranks among the top five trade partners of Uzbekistan which makes 6-10% of the trade turnover of the republic. However, the world financial crisis affected the rates and volumes of bilateral trade turnover. It was up to USD 196.3 mln in 2009, decreasing by 33.1% as compared to 2008.

 Besides, the two states hold coordinated policy on the issues of gas supplies from Central Asia to the world markets. To increase transit capacities they hold consultations on reconstruction and building of new gas lines from our region to the markets of Europe and China. Recently there was opened "Turkmenistan - Uzbekistan - Kazakhstan - China" gas pipeline that enables to transport Turkmen gas to China.

The sides actively develop cooperation in transport sphere. Among the recent agreements are the international highway service agreement (March 2006), agreement on implementation of a project on simultaneous construction of roads "Atyrau - Beineu - Kungrad" and "Aktau - Beineu - Kungrad" in the system of international transport corridor E-40. A passenger traffic by Almaty - Tashkent - Nukus route was resumed. The Kazakh side provides discounts to the railroad transit of Uzbek goods (cotton, fruits and vegetables and etc.) via the territory of China to the third countries.

How do the states solve the issues on use of water-energy resources of trans-boundary rivers?

The basis of effective solution of such issues is represented by multilateral documents including the agreement on cooperation in the sphere of joint management, use and protection of water resources from interstate resources as of 1992, agreement on the use of water and energy resources of the Syrdarya basin as of 1998 and etc.

Kazakhstan considers that the use and management of transboundary waters depends on mutually agreed basis, recognizing the need for a coordinated management regime of reservoirs, rational use of water and fuel-energy resources and in compliance with the international standards and rules of the international legal framework on transboundary rivers and streams.

Kazakhstan stands for the development of a universal mechanism of water management and protection as well as creation of a regional consortium for regulation of water and energy problems.

What are you predictions about the forthcoming visit of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Uzbekistan?

I am sure the official visit of N. Nazarbayev to the Republic of Uzbekistan planned for March 16-17 will allow to bring bilateral relations to a qualitatively new level and give additional impulse to deepening of mutually beneficial cooperation.

The two presidents are expected to adopt a joint statement. Besides, within the visit it is planned to sign an intergovernmental agreement in mutual allotment of land plots for construction of diplomatic representations, programs of cooperation between the foreign affairs ministries for 2010-2011 and a number of other documents.

What can you tell about the near-future plans of the embassy?

This year we are planning to activate interparliamentary cooperation and bilateral contacts between the social, scientific and political institutes including the religious aspect as well.

The embassy intends to increase the dynamics of bilateral relations. The imperatives of the contemporary realities demand united, coordinated actions for the prosperity of the peoples of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.