Kyrgyzstan suggests considering opening branch of Alibaba Group in country

Bishkek, July 27, 2022. /Kabar/. The 15th meeting of the Kyrgyz-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was held via videoconference, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan said. The parties discussed the implementation of the Protocol of the 14th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, topical issues of trade and economic cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China. Chairman of the Kyrgyz part of the commission, First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev noted that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the parties managed to achieve positive results in the development of cooperation in the economy, trade, standardization, agriculture, transport, health, emergencies, intellectual property, press, culture, inter-regional cooperation. During the meeting, special attention was also paid to the implementation of infrastructure and irrigation projects, in particular on the construction of the Bypass Chui Canal, the China - Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan railroad, the construction of an alternative North-South highway, the construction of five engineering structures (two avalanche galleries, three overpass bridges), an alternative North-South road, rehabilitation of roads of Bishkek, etc. In order to stimulate economic growth, Internet commerce and increase mutual trade turnover, the Kyrgyz side suggested considering opening a branch of Alibaba Group in the country. Chairman of the Chinese part of the Commission, representative at international negotiations - Deputy Minister of Commerce of China Wang Shouwen also positively assessed the dynamics of economic and investment cooperation between the two countries. He suggested paying special attention to bilateral cooperation in innovation, green economy and hydropower, mining and oil refining, environmental protection, investment and interregional cooperation. Wang Shouwen emphasized that the Chinese side is making efforts to increase exports of Kyrgyz products (including agricultural products) to its market. In addition, the Chinese side informed about the readiness to establish the Council of Entrepreneurs within the framework of the Kyrgyz-Chinese working group on investment and industrial cooperation. Following the meeting, the sides signed the Program of medium-term and long-term development of trade and economic cooperation between the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and and the Government of China until 2030 and the Protocol of the 15th meeting of the Kyrgyz-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.