Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan consider state border issues

Bishkek, Nov. 20, 2020. /Kabar/. Within the framework of his working visit to Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbayev met with Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Chairman of the Tajik side of the Intergovernmental Commissions on Integrated Consideration of Bilateral Issues and Delimitation and Demarcation of the State Border Davlatshoh Gulmakhmadzoda. Kazakbayev briefed the interlocutor on the ongoing domestic political processes in the country, about the full commitment of the Kyrgyz Republic to all its international obligations and strict implementation of all previously signed treaties and agreements, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry’s press service reported. The sides exchanged views on the most important aspects of bilateral cooperation, including the development of relations between the two states in trade and economic, water and energy, transport and communications, and cultural and humanitarian spheres. The Kyrgyz minister emphasized the importance of intensifying the work of the Kyrgyz-Tajik Intergovernmental Commission on Integrated Consideration of Bilateral Issues, informing about the possibility to hold the next 17th meeting of the IGC in the first quarter of 2021 in Bishkek. He noted that this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the volume of bilateral trade turnover between the countries has decreased, to increase which the parties need to create acceptable and mutually beneficial conditions for trade and transportation of goods. As a promising area of cooperation, Kazakbayev pointed out the status of Kyrgyzstan's General System of Preferences “GSP +” within the EU, which makes it possible to supply more than 6000 product items to the European Union countries at zero tariff rates, as well as interaction on export, import and re-export, taking into account Kyrgyzstan's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. Tajikistan's Deputy PM Davlatshoh Gulmakhmadzoda said the Tajik side is interested in exporting early agricultural products to Kazakhstan and Russia through Kyrgyzstan. He separately noted the priority of developing cooperation in the field of livestock and crop production between the relevant ministries, as well as promoting joint projects under the World Climate Fund. In addition, the two sides discussed cooperation between the countries in solving issue of delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border and joint measures to preserve peace and stability in the border areas of the countries. Following the meeting, a confidence was expressed that the existing brotherly relations between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will continue to serve as a basis for further strengthening of partnership and good neighborhood.