The first consultative meeting of the heads of the Central Asian states was held in Astana (Kazakhstan) on 15 March. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbai Jeenbekov, President of Tajikistan Imomali Rahmon and Chairman of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan Akja Nurberdyeva attended the event. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said that President of Uzbekistan initiated of holding a regular meeting to solve regional problems. He added that it is profoundly symbolic that our meeting is taking place on the eve of the common for our people holiday Navruz. Before we met, we held a dialogue separately, but such a general meeting was not held for a long time, he added. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, when assuming the office of the President, noted that he would attach special importance to close cooperation with neighboring countries. Over the past short time, all statements in this direction have become a reality. The President visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan on state visits. Mutually beneficial decisions have been reached on the state border, transport communications, interregional cooperation and many other issues. At the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in September 2017 Uzbek President put forward a number of constructive ideas and initiatives to strengthen peace and security and sustainable social and economic development in the Central Asian region. These initiatives were developed into a comprehensive program at the international conference “Central Asia: One Past and a Common Future, Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Mutual Prosperity”, held in Samarkand last November. At the meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that this day opened a new page in the history of the centuries-old good-neighborly relations of the peoples of Central Asia. Uzbekistan’s cooperation with neighboring countries is consistently developing, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said. The trade turnover of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan grew by over 20%. At the same time, there are huge opportunities, which can be used for the well-being of our peoples. The President of Uzbekistan suggested holding consultative meetings between the heads of states on the eve Navruz each year and organizing the next meeting in Tashkent. Central Asian leaders exchanged views on the development of cooperation in trade, economic, transport, communication, cultural and humanitarian spheres on the basis of mutual trust and interest, and strengthening of security and stability in the region. Source: uzdaily.com