Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan discuss expansion of inter-parliamentary cooperation

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have discussed broadening inter-parliamentary cooperation and using parliamentary diplomacy to bolster bilateral ties during a meeting at the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

Speaker of the Legislative Chamber Nuriddin Ismoilov met with Yerali Tugzhanov, Kazakhstan’s newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Uzbekistan. At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress of the strategic partnership and cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, noting the importance of contacts between the leadership of the two countries in advancing bilateral cooperation in recent years.

Special focus was placed on the legal framework regulating relations between the two states. The sides discussed the Declaration on Allied Relations and the Treaty on Allied Relations, which establish a legal foundation for strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Tugzhanov also spoke about reforms carried out in Uzbekistan over the past decade under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He pointed to Uzbekistan’s increasing role as a venue for international meetings, inter-parliamentary cooperation and political dialogue. The Kazakh ambassador also discussed the development of Uzbekistan’s parliamentary diplomacy and underscored the regular dialogue between the legislative bodies of the two countries.

Inter-parliamentary relations were among the key topics of the meeting. The sides noted that regular contacts, exchanges of experience and joint initiatives between the parliaments help support bilateral cooperation. The meeting also covered the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Council between the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan’s Oliy Majlis and the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan.

The council was described as one of the mechanisms that supports parliamentary dialogue and cooperation within the wider strategic partnership and allied relations between the two countries. The sides reviewed the current state of cooperation between the two parliaments and discussed prospects for further development. They also stressed the importance of using parliamentary diplomacy, sharing legislative experience and expanding contacts between the legislative bodies of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The meeting ended with discussions on sustaining and expanding inter-parliamentary engagement between the two countries.