BBC News Uzbek
·Aug 2026
Kyrgyzstan’s “Master,” the Border and 15 Days of Freedom: What Mirziyoyev Achieved in Cholpon-Ata
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s 30–31 July 2026 state visit to Cholpon-Ata marked a further improvement in Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan relations after years of tension. The two sides advanced a border settlement involving the transfer of two formerly Uzbek villages to Kyrgyzstan in exchange for an equal area of largely uninhabited land, while residents were given a choice of citizenship. Agreements also increased border crossing points from 15 to 30, extended visa-free stays without registration to 15 days and established joint use of the disputed Chashma spring. Economic cooperation was expanded, with a target to raise annual trade from $1.2 billion to $3 billion and new projects in energy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textiles. Kyrgyz experts welcomed the move away from isolation but warned that Uzbek agricultural imports could hurt local producers. Tashkent also pressed for faster implementation of the Kambarata-1 hydropower project, reflecting a major shift from Uzbekistan’s earlier opposition to large Kyrgyz dams. The visit underscored closer strategic ties while revealing continuing concerns about unequal benefits, national interests and the limits of broader Central Asian integration.