Oriented on making people closer

Central Asia is experiencing a period of historic transformation centered around strengthening good-neighborly relations, trust, and regional integration. A vivid example of this process is the rapidly growing relationship between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, made possible by the political will of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

New milestones in bilateral relations were established after 2016, when a course was set for strategic partnership. In 2017, a crucial agreement on the state border between the two countries was signed, resolving longstanding unresolved issues. These steps laid the foundation for expanding cooperation in trade, transportation, energy, water management, culture, and ecology.

“A people who drank water from the same river—the river of the Uzbek and the Turkmen is one. A people upon whom the rays of the moon and sun fall equally—the wisdom of the Uzbek and the Turkmen is one,” — with these words, Uzbekistan’s People's Poet Iqbol Mirzo emphasizes the spiritual and historical closeness of the two nations.

Currently, 173 enterprises with Turkmen capital are operating in Uzbekistan, including 69 joint ventures and 104 with fully foreign investment. Both sides aim to expand cooperation in the production of textiles, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and machinery. In addition, projects in mechanical engineering and household electronics are being discussed, with plans for implementation in Turkmenistan.

Great attention is being paid to cross-border cooperation: work is underway to establish the Shavat–Dashoguz trade zone. Joint events are also being held within the framework of interregional and cultural-humanitarian exchange.

The cultural kinship of the two countries is evident at every step. Shared history, language, traditions, and customs bring the Uzbek and Turkmen peoples closer. The legacy of great poets Alisher Navoi and Magtymguly Pyragy is regarded as common spiritual heritage. In Tashkent, a street is named after Magtymguly Pyragy, along with a bas-relief in his honor, and a park called "Ashgabat" has been opened. In Ashgabat, the "Tashkent" park stands as a symbol of unity and cultural closeness.

A special place is held by the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great poet Magtymguly Pyragy in 2025. This event will serve as a sign of deep respect from the Uzbek people for brotherly Turkmenistan, its history, and its culture. It also reaffirms that centuries-old culture and shared history bind Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan with unbreakable ties—now and into the future.

ORIENT

Photo: eurasianet.org