Kyrgyz FM discusses bilateral cooperation with ambassadors of Japan and Switzerland

Bishkek, Nov. 3, 2020 / Kabar /. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Ruslan Kazakbaev met with ambassadors of Japan and Switzerland, the press service of the Foreign Ministry reported. During a meeting with Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Maeda minister Kazakbaev expressed gratitude to the Japanese side for the comprehensive financial and technical assistance provided since the independence of the Kyrgyz Republic, including through JICA in the implementation of the project "One village - one product". The head of the Foreign Ministry of the Kyrgyz Republic also noted the constant support of the Japanese side of the democratization processes in Kyrgyzstan and increasing the transparency of elections by providing financial assistance in the amount of USD 4 million for the parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan in October. During the conversation, Minister Kazakbaev informed the Japanese ambassador about the current domestic political situation in the country, the return of political processes to the constitutional field, the formation of the executive branch of the Kyrgyz Republic, which pays priority attention to the renewal and further activation of the country's socio-economic sector. In turn, Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Maeda noted that the Japanese side is closely following the current political processes in Kyrgyzstan. He announced that projects temporarily suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic will be resumed in the near future. The sides also discussed topical issues of Kyrgyz-Japanese relations, noted the importance of further deepening bilateral practical interaction in the field of investment cooperation. At a meeting with Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Kyrgyz Republic Véronique Hulmann, Minister Kazakbaev informed about the current domestic political situation in the country, the upcoming holding of important political events in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the current activities of the country's leadership and executive authorities aimed at solving socio-economic problems, combating the coronavirus pandemic and other urgent tasks. The Kyrgyz side expressed gratitude to the Government of Switzerland for the technical support provided to the Kyrgyz Republic during the electoral processes in 2015, 2017 and 2020. The Kyrgyz minister noted with satisfaction the financial and humanitarian assistance provided by the Government of Switzerland, aimed at combating the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the form of support for health care, agriculture, tourism and others. Ambassador Hulmann congratulated Kazakbaev on his appointment to the post of foreign minister and wished him further success in his work. The ambassador noted with satisfaction the high level of Kyrgyz-Swiss cooperation. She emphasized the successful implementation of the Strategy for Cooperation between Switzerland and the Kyrgyz Republic for the period 2017-2021, within the framework of which projects are being implemented in the field of health, employment and economic development, public sector reform, water resources, infrastructure and climate change. They expressed their readiness to jointly identify and implement new priority areas of cooperation, including in the field of environmental protection and ecology. The sides expressed their readiness to further strengthen the political dialogue. The successful cooperation within the framework of international organizations was noted with satisfaction.