Kazakh PM takes part in Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Intergovernmental Council meeting in Bishkek
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers - Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov held the 12th meeting of the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyz Intergovernmental Council in Bishkek, El.kz cites primeminister.kz.
The issues of expanding trade and economic co-operation within the framework of agreements reached at the level of the Heads of State were considered. Attention was paid to interaction in the field of transport and logistics, industry, water resources, energy, etc.
During the meeting of the Intergovernmental Council, the parties noted the steady positive dynamics in the whole range of bilateral cooperation. Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for 9 months of this year exceeded $1.2 billion, up 1.6% compared to the same period of 2023.
"Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pays great attention to strengthening partnership with Kyrgyzstan. This year, relations between our countries reached a qualitatively new level as a result of signing the Treaty on deepening and expanding allied relations between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. We highly value our relations built on the basis of friendship, brotherhood and good neighbourliness. The Government of Kazakhstan will make every effort to further develop Kazakh-Kyrgyz cooperation," Olzhas Bektenov said.
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers - Head of the Administration of the President of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov also emphasised the importance of further development of cooperation.
"President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Japarov attaches great importance to strengthening friendly and good neighbourly relations with Kazakhstan. The official visit of our President to the Republic of Kazakhstan in April this year gave a historical character and opened a new era in Kyrgyz-Kazakh relations. I am confident that the agreement on deepening and expanding allied relations signed this year will open new opportunities for further development of Kyrgyz-Kazakh cooperation and contribute to strengthening centuries-old fraternal ties between the two peoples," Akylbek Japarov said.
Achieving the joint goal of bringing mutual trade to $3 billion by 2030 is facilitated by the implementation of a project to build an industrial trade and logistics complex near the Karasu and Ak-Tilek road checkpoints. The complex will become one of the region's major centres for consolidation, processing and distribution of cargo flows. Its launch will strengthen production co-operation and integration of the economies of the two countries. Land plots have been allocated for the construction of the complex and a regional industrial zone "Alatau" has been created in Zhambyl region.
They discussed the implementation of the Roadmap for the development of road checkpoints on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz state border, which provides for the modernisation of seven joint checkpoints. The Kazakh side plans to carry out this work through the introduction of modern and automated control and inspection systems. In general, for 8 months of this year, the volume of export-import cargo transportation by road between the two countries increased by 4.1% and amounted to 3 million tonnes. The fiscal services are working constructively together to reduce shadow trade turnover and implement bilateral agreements.
In addition, attention was paid to the Economic Corridor Almaty-Bishkek (ECAB) initiative, which has become an example of regional cooperation and launched a number of studies and projects in the field of transport connectivity, tourism development, air quality improvement, health sector, agribusiness, as well as response to climate change.
The parties noted the interest in the implementation of the Almaty - Issyk-Kul motorway project. It was decided to start works on the development of feasibility study of a new route "Almaty - Uzynagash - Kastek - Mikhailovka - Cholpan-Ata", 280 km long, at the expense of grants from the Asian Development Bank.
The participants of the Intergovernmental Council also considered plans to strengthen water and energy co-operation. It was noted that the 2024 irrigation season was successful due to the joint measures taken by the governments, and the intention to continue systematic work in this direction was expressed.
As a result, a number of documents were signed, including the final Protocol of the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Council, the Roadmap to increase mutual supplies of agricultural products, as well as the Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of tourism development. In addition, an agreement was reached on the settlement of the ownership rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the resort and recreational facilities located in the Issyk-Kul region.
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