The National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, met with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Thursday in Samarkand. During the meeting, the two sides set an ambitious goal to increase bilateral trade turnover to $2 billion in the coming years, according to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan.
The leaders praised the current pace of cooperation, highlighting the intensity of intergovernmental contacts, business and cultural exchanges, and strengthening ties between the regions. In 2024, trade between the two countries reached $1.1 billion.
Priority areas for further cooperation include energy, transport, agriculture, and water management. Work continues on the creation of the Shavat-Dashoguz border trade zone.
As part of their cultural agenda, the sides agreed to organize the 3rd Regional Forum in the historic city of Khiva and to hold Turkmenistan Culture Days in Uzbekistan. They also discussed regional cooperation, including preparations for the Central Asia Plus summits and the upcoming Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Leaders in Tashkent.
President Mirziyoyev also emphasized the importance of the upcoming forum in Ashgabat, which will take place in the context of the UN-declared International Year of Peace and Trust, initiated by Turkmenistan. At the close of the meeting, the Uzbek leader presented Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with an Uzbek translation of his book "The Pearl of Wisdom."
