Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed the law on ratification of the strategic partnership agreement between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, according to Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry.

The document that defines the goals of establishing a long-term and sustainable partnership and strategic priorities of bilateral cooperation was signed in Tashkent on August 17 this year during Tajik President Emomali Rahmon’s state visit to Uzbekistan.

In all, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed twenty-seven cooperation documents in Tashkent, including agreements on cooperation in industry, standardization and certification, border crossing, recognition of education documents, geodesy and geology, agriculture, etc.

Tajik Parliament ratified the strategic partnership agreement between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in late November this year.  

Emomali Rahmon's state visit to Tashkent in August this year was the first by the Tajik leader since 1998.

During Islam Karimov's 27-year rule in Uzbekistan, its relations with Tajikistan and other Central Asian nations were strained by disputes over transit routes, border security, water resources, and other issues. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who came to power following the death of Islam Karimov in 2016, has said mending of better relations with Uzbekistan's neighbors is a priority for his government.