According to international affairs expert Edil Osmonbetov, 2017 has really become a historic stage in relations between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. “From the point of view of bilateral relations, in a year we have passed what was not passed in 26 years, we became able to improve relations between the two countries”, he says.

According to political scientist, relations between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan could become a model for other countries of the region and the CIS. 

“If we solve all economic, border issues, as well as issues of diversification of transit with Uzbekistan taking into account national interests, and relations with the neighboring country are equal, then other countries of the region will take them into account and for the basis, and there will be a completely different agenda in 2018-2019 in Central Asia”, the political scientist notes. 

According to political scientist, the visit of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov to Uzbekistan, which was the first official visit since his election to the post of President of the Kyrgyz Republic, shows great attention of the country’s leadership to bilateral relations with Uzbekistan. 

And when President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that “there should be no boundaries between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan”, according to the political scientist, does not mean that there should be no borders in the literal sense, namely borders in all areas in relations and that the two countries need to interact with each other in all spheres of public life and economy. 

This also shows that bilateral relations have radically changed and have risen to the highest level of development of relations between countries. “Trust and sincerity between the leaders and governments of the countries and most importantly between the citizens of the states themselves, play a very important role”, the political scientist emphasizes. 

E.Osmonbetov also points out that the data on the increase in trade turnover between the two countries to 250 million dollars, which did not occur in the history of bilateral relations, is also an indicator of improving cooperation between the countries. 

“And when Shavkat Mirziyev noted that Kyrgyzstan is the closest neighbor for Uzbekistan, means that we are entering a strategic partnership in the region”, the international affairs expert noted.