China invests more than $102 million in economy of Kyrgyzstan in 2023
The volume of investments by Chinese partners in the economy of Kyrgyzstan in the first half of the year amounted to more than $102 million. It was announced at the negotiations between the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov and the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang.
According to the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers, they discussed the development of cooperation in trade and economic, energy, financial, transport and transit, agricultural spheres, education and science. The parties exchanged views on the implementation of agreements reached during previous visits at the highest and high levels.
Akylbek Japarov said that China has been one of the main trade, economic and investment partners of Kyrgyzstan, and expressed interest in implementation of joint economic projects.
He noted a growth of mutual trade and the volume of investments in the economy of the Kyrgyz Republic, which from January to June amounted to more than $102 million.
The head of the Cabinet of Ministers drew attention to the implementation of the largest project for the construction of China — Kyrgyzstan — Uzbekistan railway.
«The construction of the road will become an important link in the implementation of the initiative of the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China One Belt, One Road, which the Kyrgyz Republic was one of the first to support with great enthusiasm,» he stressed.
Akylbek Japarov added that with joint financing a feasibility study of the project has been developed, which confirmed the technical feasibility and economic feasibility of construction of the new railway line.
He noted that the full operation of Torugart and Irkeshtam checkpoints is the main factor in the further increase in mutual trade, and proposed to consider the possibility of repairing the roadway to the Kyrgyz village of Nura, at Irkeshtam checkpoint and to Torugart checkpoint.
The Kyrgyz side proposed switching to a daily round-the-clock operation of Irkeshtam and Torugart checkpoints.
The head of the Cabinet of Ministers expressed readiness for closer cooperation on the opening of a new Bedel checkpoint on the Kyrgyz-Chinese border and the construction of Barskoon — Uchturfan — Aksu highway.
He drew attention to partnership in the energy sector, noting such priority projects as the construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power stations on Sary-Jaz river, the Upper Naryn cascade of hydroelectric power stations, Kambarata hydroelectric power station-1, and Suusamyr — Kokomeren cascade of hydroelectric power stations.
As new mechanisms for bilateral economic cooperation, Akylbek Japarov noted the creation of an economic development belt around border zones through the opening of international trade centers with a model of duty-free border trade and comprehensive bonded zones.
To increase the export of agricultural products to the Chinese market, he proposed opening veterinary and phytosanitary laboratories at the checkpoint on the Kyrgyz-Chinese state border.
The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers raised the issue of liberalizing the visa regime for citizens of both countries through the introduction of a short-term visa-free regime on a parity basis. He added that Kyrgyzstan is unilaterally beginning to apply a visa-free regime for citizens of the special administrative regions of China — Hong Kong and Macau for a period of up to 30 days.
Premier of the State Council Li Qiang noted that the PRC remains a reliable partner of the Kyrgyz Republic and expressed full readiness to support projects of mutual interest.
He noted that China would strive to achieve a historical maximum in terms of joint trade turnover. He stressed the Chinese side’s readiness to expand cooperation in the agricultural sector, in particular in the supply of organic products from the Kyrgyz Republic, adding that agricultural fairs, EXPOs and other similar venues can be an excellent way to present Kyrgyz products to the Chinese market.
Our «gates» are open to Kyrgyz partners; we can use these platforms together.
Li Qiang
He outlined the position of the Chinese side on the construction of China — Kyrgyzstan — Uzbekistan railway, noting that work is underway to agree on a financial model for implementation of this project. The Premier of the State Council expressed his readiness to practically promote the project on the construction of the new Bedel checkpoint and take measures to increase the capacity of Torugart and Irkeshtam checkpoints.
