Following bilateral negotiations in a narrow and expanded format, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Sadyr Zhaparov held a joint media briefing.
Tokayev expressed confidence that the negotiations results will give a new impetus to the Kazakh-Kyrgyz strategic partnership, calling it symbolic that the visit of the Kyrgyz leader is taking place in the year of the 30th anniversary of the two countries’ independence.
The President of Kazakhstan said that during the talks, issues of joint fight against coronavirus had been considered. Kazakhstan confirmed readiness to direct the next batch of medical products and medicines to the Kyrgyz people as humanitarian aid, and announced the provision of military-technical assistance to the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan.
Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan is one of the largest trading partners, and also one of the leading investors in Kyrgyzstan.
He spoke about the agreements aimed at reducing trade barriers, strengthening interaction between the customs and tax authorities of the two countries, and introducing digital technologies into their work.
To strengthen export potential and expand ties between small and medium-sized businesses, Tokayev informed, the Kazakh delegation is soon going on a visit to Kyrgyzstan.
An important issue on the bilateral agenda is enhancing the capacity on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border in order to improve the conditions of movement of our citizens and trade flows.
The President of Kazakhstan also dwelled on the agreement reached on building up interaction through interregional cooperation. According to him, there is a need for the earliest possible holding of the first Forum of Interregional Cooperation, as well as creation of a trade and logistics center for the registration and processing of goods in the border zone.
Another point of the talks was water and energy cooperation. “We will continue to work on this issue in a bilateral format, as well as with other partners in the region. On the issues of rivers, we need effective interaction, the only way to avoid disagreements," Tokayev said.
The leaders of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan exchanged views on the regional and global agenda. According to Tokayev, the parties confirmed the similarity of their positions on most issues. The urgency of further development of the format of consultative meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia was noted. The President of Kazakhstan expressed gratitude to Sadyr Japarov for supporting the Kazakh initiative to strengthen the CICA potential.
Ending his speech, he noted that the talks held had confirmed the mutual desire to further strengthen the bonds of friendship, trust and good-neighborliness between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
