Wang Yi Holds Talks with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev

On July 30, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev in Cholpon-Ata.

Wang Yi said, this year, which marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Kyrgyzstan, is of great significance to inheriting the past and ushering in the future. Over the past 30 years, China-Kyrgyzstan relations have withstood various risks and challenges, with time-tested traditional friendship growing stronger and practical cooperation yielding fruitful results, which brings important benefits to the two peoples. In particular, the two sides have always stood firm together on major issues concerning each other's core interests, thus consolidating the political foundation of bilateral relations, enhancing mutual trust and fully demonstrating the core essence of the comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries have become good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers in a very real sense.

Wang Yi said, China has always regarded Kyrgyzstan as an important partner in its neighborhood diplomacy, and will as always firmly support measures taken by Kyrgyzstan to safeguard national sovereignty, security and social stability, and firmly oppose interference in Kyrgyzstan's internal affairs by external forces. China is ready to work with Kyrgyzstan to follow the important consensus reached at the successful meeting between the two heads of state this year, take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity and the Belt and Road cooperation as the main task, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, carry forward traditional friendship, and push the China-Kyrgyzstan comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, with a view to realizing the vision and goal of building a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future.

Kulubaev said, since the establishment of diplomatic ties 30 years ago, Kyrgyzstan and China have carried out high-level coordination, elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, consolidated good-neighborly friendship and laid a solid foundation for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides have worked together to implement the important consensus between the two heads of state and achieved tangible results. Kyrgyzstan prioritizes relations with China in its diplomacy and supports China's legitimate position on all key China-related issues without reservation. No political differences can hinder all-round cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China. The Kyrgyz side fully agrees on building a Kyrgyzstan-China community with a shared future.

Kulubaev said, Kyrgyzstan looks forward to accelerating the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, and welcomes Chinese experts' arrival in Kyrgyzstan to carry out the survey work. Kyrgyzstan is ready to work with China to speed up the implementation of key projects such as the new North-South Highway and the renovation of Bishkek's municipal road network. The Kyrgyz side hopes to simplify customs clearance procedures at ports between the two sides, and increase flights between the two countries so that more Kyrgyz students can return to China to resume their studies. He thanked the Chinese side for setting up the Luban Workshop in Kyrgyzstan, and Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest and do business in Kyrgyzstan to help Kyrgyzstan build an e-commerce logistics center in Central Asia.

Wang Yi said, during this trip, the Chinese side has felt the great importance and ardent expectations attached by Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, and will jointly advance this important project at a faster pace. This year, bucking the overall downward trend, China-Kyrgyzstan economic and trade exchanges have registered positive growth exceeding the pre-pandemic level. The Chinese side is ready to import more green and quality agricultural and livestock products from Kyrgyzstan. Both sides should steadily advance practical cooperation, foster new cooperation highlights such as new energy, ecological agriculture, e-commerce and cross-border logistics, and jointly build a "green Silk Road" and a "digital Silk Road". The Chinese side is ready to increase the frequency of direct flights in an orderly manner, further improve the efficiency of cargo transit at ports, and facilitate the return of Kyrgyz students to China for school. China will promote the construction of the Luban Workshop and expand medical and health cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides expressed satisfaction with the efficient coordination between China and Kyrgyzstan in international and regional affairs. Kulubaev said, the Kyrgyz side speaks highly of the important vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind put forward by President Xi Jinping, agrees to build a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, highly appreciates and stands ready to take an active part in the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative.

The two sides exchanged views on strengthening the China+Central Asia cooperation mechanism, and held that efforts can be focused on promoting cooperation in priority areas such as transportation, economy, trade, investment, industry, agriculture, energy, customs, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to build an all-round, multi-tiered and multi-dimensional sub-regional cooperation pattern.

After the talks, the two foreign ministers jointly met the press.