Xi Jinping Holds Talks with President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan

On the morning of May 18, 2023, President Xi Jinping held talks in Xi'an with President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan who is in China for the China-Central Asia Summit and a state visit. The two heads of state announced the elevation of the China-Kyrgyzstan relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era.

Recalling their two meetings last year, Xi Jinping pointed out that the important common understandings they reached during those meetings on China-Kyrgyzstan relations and cooperation in various areas are being implemented effectively, providing strong momentum for the development of bilateral relations. Xi said the China-Kyrgyzstan relationship has traveled a 31-year journey, and China is ready to work with Kyrgyzstan to build a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future of good-neighborliness and shared prosperity, and to contribute to the development and vitalization of both countries.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Kyrgyzstan should strengthen mutual support, particularly by giving unequivocal and strong support to each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and be good friends who can trust and rely on each other. Xi noted that the two sides need to further synergize development strategies and enhance policy coordination, advance pragmatic cooperation in various fields by jointly promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and upgrade trade and economic cooperation. The two sides also need to advance implementation of projects concerning people's livelihood and cooperation in such fields as poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, deepen connectivity cooperation, and start the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway at an early date. China is ready to import more quality agricultural and sideline products from Kyrgyzstan and encourage more Chinese companies to invest and do business in Kyrgyzstan. The two sides also need to strengthen sub-national cooperation and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges to consolidate the social and public support for the development of bilateral relations. The two sides need to deepen security cooperation to provide a safe and sound environment for the advancement of Belt and Road cooperation and the development of the two countries.

Zhaparov expressed his pleasure at visiting the historic starting point of the ancient Silk Road, and extended warm congratulations on China's successful completion of a series of major domestic political agendas. Zhaparov expressed his confidence that under President Xi Jinping's strong leadership, China will gain new and glorious achievements in various fields, and play a more important role in the world. He said the Kyrgyzstan-China relationship is now at its best in history. Kyrgyzstan firmly supports China's unswerving positions on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and other core interests, and supports the Global Security Initiative and the Global Development Initiative proposed by China. Kyrgyzstan stands ready to work with China to firmly support each other, maintain close communication and cooperation, and jointly promote the security and development of the two countries and the region. Kyrgyzstan will spare no effort to provide a safe and sound investment environment for Chinese companies, and continue to advance Belt and Road cooperation. Zhaparov stressed that the announcement he jointly made with President Xi on the day to elevate Kyrgyzstan-China relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era and the agreement they reached on building a Kyrgyzstan-China community with a shared future will take the all-round mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries to a new level.

Zhaparov said he has high expectations for the upcoming China-Central Asia Summit, and is ready to work with China to jointly build the China-Central Asia Summit into a new platform for closer bilateral and regional cooperation between Central Asian countries and China.

After the talks, the two heads of state signed the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for a New Era between the People's Republic of China and the Kyrgyz Republic and jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as economy and trade, industries and investment, customs, agriculture, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi, and Qin Gang, among others, were present at the above events.