Since gaining independence in 1991, Uzbekistan has made strengthening cooperation with neighboring states one of its foreign policy priorities. Diplomatic relations with the Republic of Kazakhstan were officially established on 23 November 1992. For more than three decades, the two countries' interactions have evolved from good-neighborly relations to a high-level allied partnership.

Reciprocal visits between heads of state have played a key role in this process, becoming the key stages in the development of strategic cooperation in a wide range of areas. On 29 May of this year, the President of Uzbekistan participated in a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held in Kazakhstan. During the event, the parties signed the "Roadmap" envisaging the implementation of joint projects in the automotive industry, energy, chemical industry, metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, logistics, building materials production, housing construction, and agriculture.

Pursuant to the agreements reached, Beibut Atamkulov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, recently visited Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex.

During the meeting between the Complex management and the representatives of the Kazakh delegation, they discussed the exchange of experience in geological exploration and deposit development, the development of cooperation in the field of critical and rare metals, and the implementation of joint projects for the processing of mineral raw materials and industrial waste.

Beibut Atamkulov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Uzbekistan:

- I first time visited AMMC three years ago. At that time, I was able to gain a detailed understanding of the enterprise’s operations. The main goal of the present visit is to facilitate the implementation of the objectives set by the leaders of our countries to expand mutual trade. It's worth noting that by the end of 2025, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan reached $4.9 billion. During today's meeting, special attention was paid to developing joint projects in the mining industry, which is of strategic importance for the development of our countries. AMMC is rightfully considered one of the most advanced enterprises in the republic, both in terms of production scale and technological advancement. I personally closely follow the ongoing transformations there through the mass media. My first education is in metallurgy, so I understand the true scale of the reforms being implemented at Complex. Against the backdrop of global economic changes, the architecture of international trade routes is changing. That’s why we must use the most of existing opportunities to build mutually beneficial cooperation that will benefit both sides. I see this as one of my key tasks.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the emerging cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in the fields of mining, geology, and processing of rare raw materials will not only contribute to the modernization of the national industrial sectors of the two countries, but also significantly strengthen the production and investment potential of the entire Central Asian region.