Chinese Premier visits Kyrgyzstan, promoting bilateral strategic development cooperation

Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Akylbek Japarov in the capital Bishkek on October 25.

Trung Quốc, Kyrgyzstan tăng cường liên kết chiến lược phát triển

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is welcomed by his Kyrgyz counterpart Akylbek Japarov at Manas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on October 24. (Source: Kyrgyz President's Office)

At the meeting, Prime Minister Li Qiang said that Beijing is willing to continue working with Bishkek to promote political mutual trust, strengthen the connection between development strategies, and seek more common interests so that the two sides can achieve common development achievements and goals.

Besides, according to Mr. Li Qiang, China and Kyrgyzstan should speed up the construction of key projects, such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, as well as port cooperation to enhance connectivity.

In addition, the two sides should also expand cooperation in emerging areas, such as advanced manufacturing, digital economy, new energy vehicles, smart agriculture and clean energy to promote new growth drivers.

Premier Li Qiang is currently on a visit to Kyrgyzstan from October 24-26 and is preparing to attend a meeting of the heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the capital Bishkek.

China is continuing to push large-scale infrastructure projects in Central Asia to fill the void left by Russia in former Soviet states, analysts say.

The region is a key link in Beijing’s multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, with two-way trade between China and Central Asia reaching $70 billion last year.

In May 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Central Asian leaders at the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.

There, the Chinese leader called on five Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - to "fully unleash" their potential in trade, economic and infrastructure cooperation.

Source