The presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in Tashkent on November 15 held negotiations that resulted in a joint statement and a broad package of intergovernmental agreements. The main cooperation areas include security, natural resources, the economy and social sectors.
A central element of strategic interaction is the creation of bilateral working groups on geology and the extraction of rare and rare-earth metals, as well as on forecasting the water flow of transboundary rivers.
Cooperation in water resources is formalised through a separate agreement on the joint management of transboundary water facilities. Coordination in this field has direct relevance for the region’s food and energy security.
The military component is represented by an agreement on conducting joint exercises, which formalises coordination between the armed forces of the two countries.
The energy and economic agenda includes projects in the oil and gas industry, as well as the establishment of a joint investment platform. Tokayev noted that the Russia–Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan gas project has shown successful results, and the parties intend to increase gas transit volumes through joint efforts. He also stated that there are perspectives for expanding cooperation in the oil sector and nuclear energy. Annual trade turnover between the countries consistently exceeds 4 billion dollars.
“The Russia–Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan gas project has shown successful results. Through joint efforts we intend to increase gas transit volumes. In addition, there are good prospects for expanding cooperation in the oil sector and the nuclear industry. The need for close coordination in the water-energy sphere in a spirit of good-neighbourliness, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests was emphasised,” Tokayev said.
Social and administrative areas include joint programmes in healthcare (specialised medical care and medical insurance), tourism for 2026–2027, the creation of a Council of Regional Heads, as well as agreements between the Tashkent city administration and the Astana city administration. Documents were also signed on coordination between customs services and radio-frequency activity in border areas, as well as cooperation in youth policy through the Assembly of Zhastary and the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded Kassym-Jomart Tokayev the “Oliy Darajali Dustlik” (“Friendship of the Highest Degree”) order, symbolising the strengthening of bilateral relations.
The meeting resulted in the formation of a comprehensive package of initiatives enabling Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to coordinate efforts in key strategic areas: joint military exercises, water-resource management, geology and rare-metal extraction, energy involving Russia, the economy and social cooperation.
List of documents signed in Tashkent
The following document titles are unofficial translations from Russian.
Documents signed by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev
- Joint Statement;
- Decision of the Supreme Interstate Council on establishing the Council of Regional Heads of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- Decision of the Supreme Interstate Council on establishing a bilateral working group on geology and the extraction of rare and rare-earth metals;
- Decision of the Supreme Interstate Council on establishing a bilateral working group on forecasting the water flow of transboundary rivers.
Documents exchanged in the presence of the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on coordination of radio-frequency assignments used by civil land-based radio services in border areas of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on conducting joint military exercises;
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on joint management and use of transboundary water bodies;
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on opening representative offices of the customs services of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- Cooperation programme between the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2026–2027;
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan on developing cooperation in the mining sector;
- Framework Agreement on creating a joint investment platform;
- Memorandum between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan on cooperation in specialised medical care using stereotactic radiosurgery “Gamma Knife” technology;
- Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation in the field of state and mandatory social medical insurance between the Non-Commercial Joint-Stock Company “Social Health Insurance Fund” of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the State Medical Insurance Fund of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- Joint Action Plan for cooperation in tourism between the Tourism Industry Committee of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2026–2027;
- Cooperation Agreement between the Akimat of Astana and the Hokimiyat of Tashkent;
- Framework Agreement on joint implementation of projects in the oil and gas chemical industry between KazMunayGas NC JSC and Uzbekneftegaz JSC;
- Agreement on Principles between KazMunayGas NC JSC and Uzbekneftegaz JSC for the “Zharkyn” exploration project;
- Memorandum of Cooperation between the Republican Public Association “Assembly of Zhastary” and the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan.