(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Sabina Mammadli read more Central Asia Weekly Review: 21-27 Dec 22
HIGHLIGHTS
Kazakh, Uzbek Presidents sign alliance and border
demarcation treaties Kyrgyzstan takes over CIS chairmanship in 2023 Tajik President proposes 20-percent rise in public sector
wages version Turkmenistan, Japan ink Memorandum of Cooperation in the
field of infrastructure Uzbek President takes part in informal CIS Summit
KAZAKHSTAN
Kazakh, Uzbek Presidents sign alliance and border
demarcation treaties
Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
and Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a treaty on allied relations between
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as well as a state border demarcation
treaty.
The presents also took part in a ceremony of launching joint
ventures. The two were informed in detail about the realization of
joint projects between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
In particular, projects for the production of home appliances in
the Karaganda region, infusion solutions in Shymkent, as well as
Chevrolet cars in Kostanay city are to be launched in
Kazakhstan.
A mineral fertilizer production project in the Navoiy region,
construction of a logistics center in the Tashkent region as well
as housing and commercial infrastructure in Tashkent are set to be
carried out in Uzbekistan.
Tokayev and Mirziyoyev wished successful realization of joint
projects and gave a start to the construction of the projects.
Seoul hosts roundtable on 30th anniversary of
Kazakhstan-South Korea diplomatic relations
The embassy of Kazakhstan hosted a round table dedicated to the
30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea.
The event was attended by the heads of research centers, leading
experts, representatives of the academic community, and the
media.
In his speech, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Bakyt Dyussenbayev spoke
about the main achievements over 30 years of bilateral political,
economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation. Also, he
especially noted the deep historical ties and closeness of cultures
between the two peoples, which are a solid foundation for the
further development of bilateral relations.
KYRGYZSTAN
Kyrgyzstan takes over CIS chairmanship in
2023
Kyrgyzstan will take over CIS chairmanship following Kazakhstan
next year.
“I would like to wish Sadyr Japarov great success in the
forthcoming chairmanship of the CIS next year,” Kazakh President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at an informal CIS summit.
According to him, the outgoing year turned out to be difficult.
Under these conditions, within the framework of its chairmanship of
the CIS, Kazakhstan took measures to strengthen the potential of
the Commonwealth. Over 80 major events have been held, solutions
have been developed.
“Our joint efforts are reflected in the documents adopted
following the results of the Astana Summit in October. Particular
attention was paid to the implementation of the tasks of the CIS
Economic Development Strategy until 2030. All these steps, in our
opinion, have borne fruit. I would like to draw attention to the
creation of favorable conditions for trade. We believe that
substantive work should be done on the elimination of tariff and
non-tariff barriers and the prevention of protectionism.
Cooperation should be established in food security issues,” Tokayev
said.
He drew attention to the fact that the CIS would mark the Year
of the Russian Language in 2023.
Kyrgyzstan, Iran agree to exchange data on turnover of
goods
The Chairman of the Customs Service of Kyrgyzstan Samat Isabekov
and Iranian Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Said Kharazi discussed topical
issues of trade and economic cooperation and prospects for further
development of bilateral partnership between the customs
authorities.
They also studied the issues of signing draft memorandums
between the customs services of the two countries“On preliminary
electronic data exchange and international movement of vehicles and
goods” and“On electronic exchange of information on eTIR
procedures”.
At the same time, the parties noted the importance of conducting
active joint work with a focus on further increasing bilateral
trade between the countries and the possibility of mutual
cooperation between the training centers of the customs authorities
in order to improve the skills of customs officers.
TAJIKISTAN
Tajik President proposes 20-percent rise in public
sector wages version
Tajiki President Emomali Rahmon proposed to strengthen the level
of the population's social security and increase the minimum wage,
public sector wage, pensions, and allowances.
He made the remarks speaking at a joint meeting of both chambers
of parliament on December 23.
He noted that the government regards social protection, science,
education, healthcare, and culture as priorities in its policy and
has been undertaking all necessary actions toward the smooth
development of these areas since the initial days of the country's
independence.
Rahmon stressed that in order to improve the social status of
the population he proposed to increase the salary of law
enforcement officers and military personnel by 25 percent and the
salary of other employees of these bodies by 20% starting from
March 1, 2023, and to increase the salary of employees of
education, science, healthcare, social protection sectors and
scholarships by 20 percent starting from July 1, 2023.
He also proposed to increase the number of basic pensions by 20
percent starting from July 1, 2023.
Tajik foreign minister holds talks with director-general
of Japan's Foreign Service Training Institute
Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin and Director-General
of the Foreign Service Training Institute of Japan's MFA Akira Muto
discussed issues related to expanding cooperation in the field of
advanced training of diplomatic servants for Tajikistan.
The discussion took place on the sidelines of the 9th Foreign
Ministers' Meeting of the 'Central Asia plus Japan' Dialogue on
December 24 in Tokyo.
The parties expressed readiness to sign a document on relevant
cooperation.
TURKMENISTAN
Turkmenistan, Japan inked Memorandum of Cooperation in
the field of infrastructure
Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Japanese Economy,
Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura signed a memorandum
on cooperation in the field of infrastructure in Tokyo.
Within the framework of the meeting, the parties noted the
strategic, sustainable and long-term nature of the economic
partnership between Turkmenistan and Japan, a vivid example of
which are the successfully implemented large-scale projects for the
construction of enterprises in the oil and gas and gas chemical
industries.
The ministers discussed the possibility of updating the Roadmap
for cooperation in the field of infrastructure in Turkmenistan and
supplementing it with new relevant projects.
In addition, the interest of the Turkmen side in studying the
Japanese experience in green and hydrogen energy and creating
modern high-tech industries focused on the production of
competitive products was indicated.
Turkmenistan, Russian customs officials discuss
partnership in personnel training
The specialists of the customs services of the Russian
Federation and Turkmenistan made a decision to take appropriate
measures to conclude a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of
personnel training.
The issue of the preparation of personnel was considered during
the online meeting of the working group on the implementation of
the Joint Action Plan between the State Customs Services of
Turkmenistan and the Federal Customs Service of Russia.
During the meeting, the issues on simplification of customs
operations when moving goods and vehicles between Turkmenistan and
the Russian Federation, and cooperation in the fight against
customs offenses, were also discussed.
UZBEKISTAN
Uzbek President takes part in informal CIS
Summit
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in an informal
meeting of the CIS Heads of State, held on the initiative of the
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in Saint
Petersburg on 26 December.
The summit was also attended by the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr
Zhaparov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon,
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Prime Minister
of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.
The results of interaction in the current year were summed up
and priorities for the upcoming 2023 were discussed. Views on
current issues of the regional and international agenda were
exchanged.
It should be noted that Uzbekistan is currently developing
cooperation with partners within the CIS in three dimensions: in
politics and security, economic and humanitarian spheres.
Uzbekistan, Poland are preparing to sign a bilateral
agreement on readmission
Uzbekistan Ambassador to Poland Bakhrom Babayev met with the
European liaison return officer within the framework of the EURLO
project Edita Skibinskaya.
It was emphasized that the positive experience of the EURLO
officer became the basis for the decision to extend this mission
until 2026.
Skibinskaya said that in 2023 a grant would also be allocated to
conduct seminars in Poland for specialists from Uzbekistan. In
particular, it is planned to organize English language courses for
employees of the border agencies of the country in order to study
special professional terms used in practice on migration, returns
and readmission. In addition, it is planned to conduct training
seminars in Uzbekistan, Poland and other EU countries on
identifying forged documents.
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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @sabinammdl
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Tags: kazakhstan turkmenistan kyrgyzstan uzbekistan central asia tajikistan