Sadyr Zhaparov at Astana International Forum speaks about benefits of cooperation between Central Asian countries

Bishkek, June 8, 2023. / Kabar /. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, within the framework of the Astana International Forum in Astana, noted the importance of regional integration, answering a question from moderator Richard Quest about the benefits of cooperation between Central Asian countries for obtaining economic and environmental dividends for the entire region.

The head of state stressed that the region is distinguished by a significant diversity of both opportunities and challenges. Large reserves of natural resources, significant demographic potential, transit opportunities in the center of Eurasia create all the conditions for joint mutually beneficial cooperation and development.

“Our region is a large geo-economic space with a huge transport and logistics potential. Here we are successfully developing all forms of economic cooperation and interaction, including at such regional platforms as the Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Moreover, all components of this system mutually complement and reinforce each other. Our region is strategically located at the crossroads of various civilizational and geopolitical systems, acting as a kind of bridge between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In this context, I would like to highlight the successfully functioning regional platforms in the C5 + format Russia, China, Japan, Korea, the USA, the European Union and India. We, representatives of the kindred peoples of Central Asia, are proud of our common past, our many thousands of years of history and culture; we have much in common in traditions and customs; much brings us together in terms of the similarity of mentality, psychology and worldview. I would call all this our common property, a very important competitive advantage,” Sadyr Zhaparov said.