Regular meeting Central Asia - China held in Nur-Sultan

Bishkek, June 9, 2022 / Kabar /. A regular meeting of foreign ministers of the Central Asia - China format was held in Nur-Sultan, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reported. During the meeting, a thorough exchange of views took place on issues of political interaction, development of trade and economic cooperation, strengthening of cultural and humanitarian ties and other aspects relevant to Central Asia. The heads of the foreign ministries voiced a number of specific proposals and ideas aimed at intensifying work aimed at sustainable socio-economic development, strengthening stability and peace, and ensuring food and environmental security in the region. In his speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Jeenbek Kulubaev noted that the activities of the Central Asia - China format are successfully developing along a promising path of becoming an authoritative regional platform for the benefit of strengthening political dialogue, promoting mutual interests and deepening the interconnectedness of economies. Stating that this multilateral format stimulates the development of bilateral relations between the Central Asian states and China , Kulubaev noted the high level of Kyrgyz-Chinese relations of strategic partnership and outlined the current priority areas of interaction, as well as joint bilateral projects of cross-border importance and contributing to the sustainable development of the countries of Central Asia. In particular, based on the relevance of building up the transport and communication infrastructure in the region, the Kyrgyz side emphasized the need to actively promote the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction project. The minister also noted the expediency of working to improve the efficiency of green corridors for transit cargo transportation for the import and export of goods, including socially significant products. Kulubaev emphasized that the creation of a favorable business environment, in terms of protecting the interests of foreign investors, is one of the priorities of the leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic. To this end, the Kyrgyz side is actively working to improve the investment climate and ensure the security of foreign investment in the country. In this vein, the minister called on investors from China and the countries of the region to participate in large projects and actively invest in the economy of Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz side also proposed mutually beneficial investment cooperation in the hydropower complex, since the hydropower potential should be considered as a low-carbon development, and water resources as the core of the green development model in Central Asia. Regarding the environmental agenda, Kulubaev noted that climate change, ecosystem destruction and environmental pollution have a strong impact on mountainous countries, including Kyrgyzstan. Noting the active work of Kyrgyzstan within the framework of the UN on issues of sustainable mountain development, conservation of biodiversity and mountain glaciers, he outlined the timeliness and high relevance of the initiatives of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov to announce the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions, as well as the establishment of the Fund for the Development of Mountain Countries and declaring 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. As a result of the meeting, the Joint Statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Roadmap for the Development of Regional Cooperation for 2022-2025, the Initiative to Deepen Cooperation between the Countries of Central Asia and China in the Field of Connectivity and the Initiative for Cooperation in the Field of Data Security between China and the States of Central Asia were adopted.