During a trilateral meeting of the Presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, which took place in Tajik northern city of Khujand on March 31, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov proposed considering the possibility of introducing a unified visa for free movement of tourists across the Central Asian region.
The heads of state discussed important regional cooperation issues, emphasizing the importance of strengthening good-neighborly relations, joint implementation of infrastructure and economic projects, as well as expanding the region's tourism opportunities.
The Tajik president’s official website says the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, in particular, stated that "our countries and peoples are connected by strong ties of long-standing friendship, good neighborliness, and joint development."
"We in Tajikistan highly value the relations with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which are based on good neighborliness, equality, respect, and consideration of mutual interests," he said.
Emomali Rahmon expressed satisfaction with the signing of the Treaty on Allied Relations with Uzbekistan and the exchange of letters confirming it, stating that "we look to the future of strategic partnership and alliance between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan with great optimism."
According to the Kyrgyz president’s press service, President Sadyr Japarov, speaking at the meeting, thanked the President of Tajikistan for the warm reception and high level of organization of the event, symbolizing the unity and friendship of the peoples.
"As the saying goes, 'A close neighbor is better than a distant relative,'" noted the President of Kyrgyzstan.
He expressed confidence that initiatives like today's celebration [of Navrouz holiday] would become a good tradition and be held annually in different corners of our countries, carrying with them an atmosphere of brotherhood and mutual understanding.
"Kyrgyzstan looks to the future with great optimism and is firmly focused on the development of multifaceted cooperation with the brotherly states of Central Asia," Japarov emphasized.
He also noted that the countries are already successfully implementing large-scale infrastructure and economic projects aimed at ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity for the entire region.
Kyrgyz leader reminded that the cities of Osh, Khujand, and Andijan are not only historical centers but also symbols of centuries-old civilization, rich traditions, and culture.
In this regard, he proposed considering the introduction of a unified visa that would allow free movement of tourists across the region, similar to the Schengen Area in Europe.
The reaction of the leaders of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to this proposal is currently unknown.
It is worth noting that earlier, on March 13, Sadyr Japarov suggested introducing a unified visa for citizens of other countries to enter the Central Asian countries.
In conclusion, Sadyr Japarov noted that regional integration continues to develop actively, and strengthening cooperation in all spheres will be the key to the sustainable development and prosperity of Central Asia.
The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, stated that the Treaty on the intersection of the state borders of the three countries will ensure stability and will contribute to increasing the international prestige of the entire region.
According to him, trade turnover between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan has increased tenfold, with almost half of this volume coming from the border areas.
The Uzbek leader emphasized the need to expand customs checkpoints on the borders and create a modern trade and logistics network between the three countries. He proposed creating a trilateral trade platform by organizing a permanent fair for industrial and agricultural products.
Mirziyoyev noted that work continues on the development of transportation links, including increasing air flights and launching new bus routes in the border areas of the three countries.
The trilateral negotiations resulted in the signing of the Treaty between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on the Junction Point of the State Borders of the three countries and the Khujand Declaration on Eternal Friendship.
