The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov in his Oksaroy Residence on July 26.

Welcoming the guest, the President spoke of the development of Uzbek-Kazakh relations, particularly economic cooperation.

Mr. Masimov in his tern noted fruitfulness of his visit to Uzbekistan. In further talks parties shared their opinions about the current status and future prospects of bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

During the visit of the Prime Minister Masimov to Tashkent, the office of the Kazakhstan Development Bank was opened and the second meeting of the Interstate Coordination Council was held.

Besides, the high level guest participated in the work of the Uzbek- Kazakh Interstate Coordination Council functioning under the auspices of Presidents Islam Karimov and Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Kazakh and Uzbek ministers of Industry and Trade, Education and Science, Transport and Communications, Environment Protection, and other high level officials participated in the meeting alongside with the Prime Ministers of Uzbekistan and Kazakahstan.

At the meeting participants discussed the progress on the earlier achieved agreements, development of trade and economic cooperation.

The legal framework for bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan is constituted by over 100 documents; there are 50 of them on economic sphere.

Annually the volume of bilateral trade between two countries increases in average by 20-35%. In 2006, bilateral trade comprised $ 718.6 mln. (up by 40% compared to 2005). In the first half of the current year bilateral trade rose by another 93.2% compared to the first half of 2006 and comprised to $ 583.4 mln. Experts suggest that by the end of the year the figure may reach $ 1 bln., and if the current pace is preserved this figure may even be exceeded.

Over 120 joint ventures established by the business representatives of two countries operate in Uzbekistan and about 100 JVs ? in Kazakhstan.

As it was noted during the meeting, relations between two countries are developing based on the Agreement on the eternal friendship, which was signed in 1998. Process of realization of the arrangements achieved during meetings of Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were analysed comprehensively. The issues concerning present conditions and prospects of the Uzbek-Kazakh relations were discussed. It was marked that the both sides are equally interested in development of cooperation.

- There are big opportunities for further expansion of cooperation between our countries, - Prime Minister of Kazakhstan K.Masimov said. - We, Kazakhtanees, closely observe and support large-scale reforms spent in all spheres of your country. These reforms serve further development of independent Uzbekistan, increase of well-being of its people. We are also very happy that the International Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) announced Tashkent as a capital of Islamic Culture in 2007. this is a result of wise policy of the President of Islam Karimov on revival, preservation and bringing to future generations national-and-spiritual heritage of people.

On the results of the session the Strategy of economic cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2007-2016, and Agreement on cooperation in the field of archival affairs between agency "Uzarhiv" at the Cabinet Ministries of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of culture and information of the Republic of Kazakhstan were signed.

On the results of visit the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.Masimov met with representatives of mass media and answered the questions journalists were interested in.

During the visit the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan K.Masimov laid a wreath to a monument «Independence and humanism», and visited the State museum of history of the Temurids.

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov left Tashkent for Samarkand on July 27. He visited historical sites there.

Tashkent city July 27, 2007