BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — The presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will meet for the first-ever trilateral summit on March 31 in the Tajik city of Khujand, marking a significant step toward regional cooperation, Tajik media reported.
The announcement was made by Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov during the 58th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Baisalov described the summit as a “historic victory of diplomacy and political will,” emphasizing the resolution of the long-standing Kyrgyz-Tajik border dispute. He credited Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov’s commitment to peace and stability as a key factor in reaching the final border agreement.
Focus on regional cooperation
The summit will center on strengthening regional ties and addressing key issues such as security, economic development, and infrastructure. Among the agreements set to be signed are deals on state borders, energy cooperation, water resource management, and the construction of new roads.
This meeting follows the February 21 signing of the final protocol on the delimitation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, resolving one of the region’s most contentious territorial disputes.
With this agreement, Kyrgyzstan has now settled all outstanding border issues with its neighbors, having previously reached agreements with China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan’s trade relations with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Uzbekistan’s trade with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has fluctuated in recent years. In January 2025, trade turnover with Kyrgyzstan stood at $48.9 million, slightly up from $46.4 million in 2024 but down from $61.7 million in 2023. Exports to Kyrgyzstan totaled $24.8 million, a decline from $26.8 million in 2024 and $43.4 million in 2023, while imports rose to $24.2 million, compared to $19.6 million in 2024 and $18.3 million in 2023.
Trade between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan reached $35.2 million in January 2025, down from $37.9 million in 2024 and $38.8 million in 2023. Exports fell to $30.2 million from $32.6 million in 2024 and $33.5 million in 2023, while imports slightly declined to $5 million from $5.3 million in both 2024 and 2023.
Overall, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover in January 2025 totaled $4.5 billion, a 7.1% increase from the same month in 2024. Exports rose 14.1% to $1.3 billion, while imports increased 4.4% to $3.19 billion, contributing to a $1.89 billion trade deficit as the country continues to rely on imports to meet domestic demand.
