OREANDA-NEWS. On July 08, 2008 Vice Premier of Kazakhstan Umirzak Shukeyev made a visit to Uzbekistan, Kazinform reported.

According to Kazakhstan Embassy in Uzbekistan, a wide range of issues were discussed at a meeting of Shukeyev with the Uzbek government in Tashkent.

Among them is fulfillment of the tasks set following up the meetings of Presidents Islam Karimov and Nursultan Nazarbayev: cooperation in oil and gas sector, water issues and creation of a free trade zone.

Kazakhstan is one of the leading trade and economic partners of Uzbekistan. The volume of commodity turnover between the two states hit USD 1 billion in 2007. The sides plan to increase this index no less than by 30%.