After the media briefing held on Monday, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan, Akmoljon Kuchkarov, according to the inviolable traditions of oriental hospitality, he offered the participants of the meeting to taste dishes of national cuisine, the universally recognized king of which is pilaf.

However, some particularly diligent guests were in no hurry to taste the famous Uzbek food, encouraging the ambassador to talk about the burning topics of bilateral relations, which we will try to convey with the scrupulousness of a verbatim report on the conversation "on his feet".

– Mr. Ambassador, during the briefing you said that from 2017 to 2023 there was a more than fivefold increase in the volume of mutual trade, but what does this figure look like compared to the previous year?

– By the end of 2022, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan amounted to $ 920 million, and by the end of 2023, the trade turnover increased to $ 1 billion 94 million. It is worth noting here that these are data from the statistical agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan and perhaps there may be some discrepancies with the statistics of Turkmenistan related to different approaches to the calculation methodology, determining the cost of services, etc.

– Is there any data on how much gas was supplied in 2023?

– We have concluded an agreement on gas supplies in the amount of 2 billion cubic meters, but so far we do not have operational data on how much has been supplied. However, we are doing very well both in terms of gas and electricity.

– Are there plans to supply gas in 2024?

– Absolutely!

– And it will also be 2 billion cubic meters?

– We will summarize the results for 2023, and then we will return to the topic of annual contracts once again. There are no long-term contracts between us yet, but we are also working on this. As you know, the economy of Uzbekistan is growing, and our demand for energy resources is increasing from year to year, as industrial enterprises that are being put into operation require the creation of new conditions and opportunities.

– Is Uzbekistan interested in new supplies of Turkmen gas?

– I'm interested.

– During your speech, you noted that this year it is planned to organize high-level and top-level visits. Did we understand correctly that we are talking about mutual visits of the Presidents of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan?

– Mutual visits are planned for this year. Now, through diplomatic channels, we are coordinating the time, place of visits, etc. – all this is still being worked out, but we traditionally have high- and top-level visits every year.

This is another tradition that demonstrates that the heads of our states actively interact, work closely, and make great efforts to ensure that our partnership contributes not only to the development of bilateral cooperation, but also has an impact on the actual regional rapprochement of the Central Asian countries, since many issues that we put on the regional agenda need the support of all states.

– In recent years, the new format "Central Asia+" has been working quite effectively. Do you think that the Turkmen-Uzbek relations can serve as a model of mutually beneficial partnership for other states?

– For the first time, the idea of convening consultative meetings of the heads of Central Asian states was voiced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. And she was fully supported by respected President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. It was this support and such fruitful interaction that later made this idea a reality. Since it is our rapprochement, the joint formation of the regional agenda has made it possible to increase the effectiveness of the format.

The first state visit of the President of Uzbekistan was to Turkmenistan in March 2017. During this visit, many processes of not only bilateral, but also regional importance were discussed. The Presidents of our two countries, considering that the world is changing, considered it necessary for our states to cooperate more actively, since the rapprochement of the Central Asian countries will increase the subjectivity of the region on an international scale, as well as strengthen peace, stability and prosperity in our region.

Our presidents are far–sighted - their ideas and thoughts voiced during that period allowed us to create an atmosphere of trust in Central Asia, which is currently recognized not only in the region, but also in the international arena.

It is for this reason that many important European institutions (for example, the EU) or large states (the USA, Russia, China, etc.) propose to apply the "Central Asia+" format of cooperation. This once again shows that the ideas that were discussed by the leaders of our states, those thoughts on regional rapprochement and increasing its potential are recognized in the international arena.

– What areas or spheres of activity do you think have great potential for the development of Turkmen-Uzbek relations, but which have not yet been fully exploited?

– We believe that at the current stage, cooperation between our countries is developing systematically. However, as you have noticed, we still have a lot to do in order to use the huge potential that Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have. In this regard, it is important to pay more attention to the development of transport communications in the region, the creation of new alternative routes that will allow the region to connect more closely with the countries of South and Southeast Asia, with the countries of the Middle East, etc.

In this regard, Turkmenistan is one of the important transit corridors through which regional communications pass. Once again, I can repeat that we are witnessing the revival of the Great Silk Road. Just last week, our president paid a visit to China, where the issues of accelerating the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway were considered. This railway will connect China through our countries with the Middle East region and European countries through the Trans-Caspian Corridor.

– Currently, according to the agreements, trade terminals are being built on the border between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Are there plans to expand them in the future?

Following the visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan on October 20-21, 2022, an agreement was signed on the creation of the Shavat–Dashoguz border trade zone, after which the implementation of this project was launched. Currently, construction is underway in this area, which will be completed in 2025. But this is only the first step in the development of our cross-border trade. In the future, we plan to create such zones in other border areas. Our states also have big plans for the development of industrial cooperation.

Today, when crisis phenomena are observed in the world, when we witness a rupture of supply chains, we have no other alternative but to turn to our neighbors and, having coordinated actions, produce those products that we can no longer receive from abroad at affordable prices. We have to produce everything ourselves and at home – in the region.

Uzbekistan has advantages in the production of certain types of goods and services. The same opportunities are available in Turkmenistan. Therefore, if we combine our potentials, it will give a multiplier effect that will contribute to improving the well-being of the Uzbek and Turkmen peoples.

– Of course, the development of industry is an important direction in the activities of our states. But due to climate change, it is also necessary to take into account the fact that well-established varieties of cotton, wheat and other crops may lose their properties in the near future. Are there plans for cooperation between breeders of the two countries and other agricultural specialists in this area?

Documents have been signed between the research institutes of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, according to which work in this direction is being carried out on a systematic basis. The leadership of both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan takes addressing climate change issues extremely seriously. Specific measures are being taken to mitigate their impact on national economies. For example, Uzbekistan has adopted a program for concreting channel beds and supply ditches to reduce water losses. The same projects are being implemented in Turkmenistan.

You have correctly noted that climate change requires a scientific, innovative approach to the creation of new varieties of crops that would be drought–resistant, could produce good harvests in conditions of increased salinity of soils and other natural phenomena. Scientists from the two countries are working in this direction purposefully.

– Along the way, you mentioned another urgent issue – the growing shortage of water and the related problem of rational water use. Is work being done in this direction as well?

A unique structure has been created between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – this is the intergovernmental commission on water management issues. It has already held three meetings in turn – in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Within the framework of this commission, extensive work is underway to consider all aspects of interaction in the aspect of this issue. The function of this commission is to solve the problem of protecting the water use system from dangerous factors related to climate change in our region.

In order to prevent negative consequences, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are jointly reconstructing the Sultansanjar dam, which is located on the territory of Turkmenistan. Work is underway there to erect a concrete wall that will prevent water seepage from the reservoir. And this will make it possible to increase the capacity of the reservoir by another billion cubic kilometers of water. These works are carried out in close coordination of the ministries responsible for water use.

…This was the spontaneously born interview “on my feet”, which was not inferior in its informativeness to the previous briefing, at the end of which some, citing employment, wanted to leave, which was categorically opposed by the hospitable hosts. And their reward for this was the pleasure of perceiving the masterpieces of culinary art of the hospitable Uzbek people. Bekdurdy AMANSARYEV (PHOTO … final.)

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