Strengthening Bilateral Ties: Mirziyoyev's Visit to Kazakhstan Concludes

On March 29, Presidents Qasym-Jomart Toqayev of Kazakhstan and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan held an informal meeting in Almaty, continuing a tradition of personal diplomacy that has become a hallmark of their bilateral relationship, Orda.kz reports.

Their visit began with a symbolic stop at the iconic “Medeu” high-mountain skating rink, a must-see destination in Almaty. City Akim Yerbolat Dosayev presented the snowy peaks of the Jailiy Alatau and spoke about the history of the Medeu dam in the Small Almaty Gorge.

The Presidents, impressed by the landscape, remarked that Almaty and its surrounding mountains remain one of the top tourist destinations in Central Asia, even during the winter season.

At the Medeu complex, the leaders viewed a photo exhibition chronicling the history of the famous skating rink and were briefed on its upcoming development plans. They were joined by speed skater Evgeny Koshkin — a World Cup stage winner and Asian Games medalist — and treated to a performance by Kazakhstani figure skaters.

Following the scenic tour, the two leaders turned to official matters. They expressed mutual appreciation for the warm hospitality and reaffirmed their nations' alliance.

I am truly grateful that I am being hosted so warmly here, in Almaty, your birthplace, in a way that reflects the brotherhood between our peoples. I thank you personally and on behalf of the Uzbek people. Our relations have completely transformed in recent years. We are allies. Thanks to our personal rapport, many issues are resolved smoothly, and everything we agree on gets done. I sincerely congratulate you on Kazakhstan’s success,President Mirziyoyev said. 

The leaders later visited the Almaty Fair AI exhibition, where the Alemai International Center for Artificial Intelligence concept was presented.

The center is being developed on Toqayev’s initiative. The exhibition also featured the AI-Sana educational program aimed at integrating AI into Kazakhstan’s economy and boosting tech entrepreneurship.

Special attention was given to the Central Asian Innovation Hubs — an alliance of significant technoparks in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan formed in 2023 to promote regional innovation and expand into global markets.

Before concluding the visit, the two Presidents also toured an art exhibition featuring works by Abilkhan Kasteyev and Ural Tansykbayev.

Talks between the leaders covered a wide range of topics, including cooperation in politics, trade and economics, transportation and logistics, energy, investment, water management, and tourism. They also emphasized cultural and humanitarian ties.

At the end of the visit, Toqayev personally saw off President Mirziyoyev at the Almaty airport. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic partnership and advancing joint initiatives aimed at the region’s sustainable development.

Original Authors: Natalia Ovchinnikova, Rustam Muratov, third article