Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who arrived at the head of a government delegation in Tashkent, met on Monday with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, according to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

 During the meeting, the high dynamics of the development of interstate relations between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which are growing stronger on the basis of a confidential political dialogue at the highest state level, was noted, the Foreign Ministry notes.

 Particular attention was paid to the issues of deepening interaction and practical steps to increase the volume of mutual trade, the implementation of new joint projects in industry, energy, water and agriculture, as well as the effective use of the transit potential of the two states.

 Serdar Berdimuhamedov also met with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov.  Having discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, the parties expressed interest in diversifying and increasing mutual trade.

 In this regard, the importance of creating a border Turkmen-Uzbek trade zone, agreed upon during the official visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Tashkent on October 4-5, 2021, was emphasized.

 According to Uzbek media, during the meeting it was noted that over the past four years, bilateral trade has grown fivefold, and in 2021 its volume increased by 65% ​​and amounted to about 880 million US dollars.  At the same time, it was planned to bring the volume of mutual trade up to 1 billion US dollars in the near future.

 As a result of the meeting, a number of documents were signed between private sector enterprises of the two countries.