Uzbek-Kyrgyz Alliance Talks: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Japarov in Cholpon-Ata, with both sides signing a Treaty on Allied Relations and creating a Supreme Interstate Council to implement agreements. Border & Trade Boost: Kyrgyzstan will raise Kyrgyz-Uzbek border checkpoints from 15 to 30, aiming to ease travel and expand trade, transport logistics and people-to-people ties; leaders also pushed a target of $2bn in bilateral trade, calling it “not the limit.” Mega Projects in Focus: The talks highlighted the Kambarata HPP-1 and the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway as strategic “projects of the century,” alongside broader industrial cooperation. Higher Education Link-Up: A Kyrgyz-Uzbek forum of rectors began in Issyk-Kul to expand academic integration, science cooperation and university-business ties, including digital transformation and AI. Regional Trade Snapshot: Russia–Uzbekistan trade hit $7bn in 1H 2026 (+15.7%); Uzbekistan exports to Russia rose to $2.37bn while imports climbed to $4.64bn. Aviation Connectivity: FlyOne Armenia launched direct Tashkent–Yerevan charter flights twice weekly, adding to growing air links between the two markets. Uzbek Economy Signals: CERR reported Uzbekistan’s automotive market sales topped 80,200 units in June (+18% vs May), with passenger car sales up 14%.