In a significant move to bolster regional cooperation, China and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to support free trade and uphold multilateralism. The announcement came after a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Kyrgyz counterpart Jeenbek Kulubaev on Saturday.
Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized the strong ties between the two countries. “As close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, China and Kyrgyzstan have always treated each other with trust and sincerity,” he said. “We are reliable and trustworthy brothers and partners.”
Under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, bilateral relations have developed rapidly. The two nations are working together to build a community with a shared future, characterized by good-neighborliness and mutual prosperity.
China affirmed its firm support for Kyrgyzstan in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and opposed any external interference in Kyrgyzstan’s internal affairs. Wang Yi expressed confidence that Kyrgyzstan will continue to support China’s legitimate position on issues concerning its core interests.
Jeenbek Kulubaev acknowledged the strong momentum injected into Kyrgyz-Chinese relations following President Japarov’s successful visit to China in February. He thanked China for its support in Kyrgyzstan’s economic and social development and expressed willingness to deepen the good-neighborly friendships and build a Kyrgyzstan-China community with a shared future.
The two sides reviewed key Belt and Road cooperation projects and agreed to steadily advance the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. They also explored areas of common interest to enrich bilateral relations and facilitate people-to-people exchanges.
Kulubaev noted that China has become Kyrgyzstan’s largest trade and economic partner. “We welcome Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Kyrgyzstan and are committed to providing a favorable business environment,” he said.
On tariff issues, both sides agreed on the importance of upholding multilateralism and strengthening coordination to address challenges. They discussed enhancing cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Kyrgyzstan expressed support for China’s chairmanship of the SCO and the upcoming summit to be held in northern China’s Tianjin later this year.
