Kyrgyzstan and China - close cooperation for benefit of two states

China is one of the dominant countries in the world political and economic arenas. Close cooperation with a country like China is for the benefit of many states. For Kyrgyzstan, qualitative relationships with a strategically important neighbor play a high role.
Recently, the relationship between Kyrgyzstan and China is rapidly developing. The official visit of President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov to the Celestial Empire, which took place not so long ago, set an even greater vector for the development of relations at the highest level. Events related to the main political event of the year, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit is to be start in Kyrgyzstan. This event, according to many experts, will set a fundamentally new round of relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the People's Republic of China.
Kyrgyzstan has concluded more than 10 government investment agreements with China over the years of independence. In the early 1990s, these were large commodity loans, as well as loans for the rehabilitation of road infrastructure, in particular, the Osh-Sary-Tash-Irkeshtam highway, and in the last 10 years, the Bishkek-Naryn-Torugart highway. New Kyrgyz-Chinese agreements for the coming years were signed to restore several strategic highways, as well as to reconstruct roads in Bishkek.
Political scientist Vadim Tutlis said that the most attractive sectors for Chinese investors are the manufacturing industry; trade, repair of cars, household goods and personal items; financial investments in transport and communications, as well as in many other industries.
"Over the years, about 60% of the total investment flow in Kyrgyzstan has been real estate, rental and provision of services to consumers. In addition, China’s interest in investing in professional, scientific, and technical activities is growing," he said.
All these issues regarding the existing agreements, as well as the prospects for signing new ones, will be considered and identified during the state visit of Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to Kyrgyzstan.
"In the sphere of foreign economic relations, Kyrgyzstan considers China as its main partner," said Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov during an extended format talks with Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping. The head of state noted that Kyrgyzstan is interested in developing mutual trade and promoting joint investment projects.
"Your initiative One Belt, One Road will promote the trade and economic cooperation. I propose to create an intergovernmental group to develop a roadmap to promote key projects within your idea. Including those projects that we discussed with you at the meeting in Beijing. From our part, the group will be headed by a first vice prime minister. Such an interstate mechanism gives impetus to the deepening of the strategic partnership," said Jeenbekov.
The Kyrgyz President added that the implementation of joint projects is of great social importance for the country.
"With your personal support, projects are being implemented in Kyrgyzstan in the field of energy, transport, agriculture and irrigation. During my last visit to China, we reached an agreement on a grant of 600 million yuan. We hope that this project will begin its implementation in the near future," noted Jeenbekov.
The head of state also drew attention to the fact that the growth of imports from China is far ahead of the growth of Kyrgyz exports to the PRC.
"We fully share the idea of ​​the Green Silk Road that you proposed. Kyrgyzstan can produce and export clean, ecological products. I am sure they will be in great demand in the Chinese market. I am glad that today we will sign protocols on the export of products, conclude an agreement on the creation of a diversified agro-industrial park. We will practically launch the first joint project in the field of the green economy of the Silk Road," he stressed.
The Chinese side has been rather successfully developing its relations with Kyrgyzstan in many areas for a long a time. China has always seen in the Kyrgyz Republic a reliable and promising partner.
By the way, this was stated also by the Chinese leader. In particular, Xi Jinping noted that "within the framework of my state visit to Kyrgyzstan, I am ready to raise the relationship between our countries to a new level".
The Chinese leader said that 6 years have passed since he visited Kyrgyzstan. "During this time, there have been changes in your country for the better," Xi Jinping said.
President XI especially emphasized that after taking office, Jeenbekov developed a series of measures in the field of economic development, improved welfare of the people, and the fight against corruption.
"Successes are evident. As a good neighbor and a comprehensive strategic partner, we are sincerely happy for you," he added.
The Chinese President also said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Chinese-Kyrgyz cooperation has increased. "We switched to a new type of relationship," he noted.
But what else is important to know. The work in Central Asia by the dominant states does not stop for a minute. To this day we have a lot of successfully implemented projects. We must not forget that not only China shows its interest in the Central Asian region. For Russia, the Central Asian countries, and in particular Kyrgyzstan, are strategically necessary as a foothold on the southern borders.
Lira Sulaimanova, Director of the Center for China Science at Kyrgyz Slavonic University, stated that in May 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a joint statement on the pairing of the construction of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Thus, the Russian and Chinese sides agreed on mutual cooperation. But it is worth noting that the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) did not participate in the signing of the document, which raises the question of its viability as an independent supranational body.
"Nevertheless, the pairing of these two organizations has good prospects, since they are two different projects. The EAEU is an integration project of Russia, and the Silk Road Economic Belt is a transport and infrastructure project of China. Providing trade preferences to China should also lead to lower prices for Chinese goods and products," Sulaimanova said.
The expert said that, today the most promising direction for cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China is the Chinese concept of One Belt, One Road. "The projects and cooperation programs currently being implemented are aligned with the provisions of this concept," the expert concluded.
No need to remind that China is the second largest economy in the world. The recognition of this is the inclusion of the RMB by IMF in the currency basket from October 2016. Being a close neighbor of such a country, it would be unwise not to take advantage of China’s opportunities to ensure the growth of the Kyrgyz economy and the welfare of the people.
The mutually beneficial and qualitative relations of Kyrgyzstan and China are long-term and strategic. It must be admitted that so far there are objective restraining factors, about which we spoke above. However, the success of these partnerships and business relationships largely depends on the activity of the authorities of Kyrgyzstan, on their readiness and real desire to develop various projects and joint activity programs in a timely manner.
"Вы внесли огромный личный вклад в укрепление и развитие всестороннего стратегического партнерства между нашими странами. Мы благодарим вас за постоянную поддержку КР. Ваш визит в нашу страну открывает новую историческую страницу кыргызско-китайских отношений. Сегодня нами были проведены весьма насыщенные и плодотворные переговоры. В атмосфере взаимопонимания и дружбы состоялся конструктивный диалог. Мы обсудили широкий спектр вопросов кыргызско-китайского сотрудничества. У нас есть общая позиция о том, что великий Шелковый путь связывает нас с исторических времен", - сказал Жээнбеков.
Today, Kyrgyz-Chinese relations have reached a qualitatively new level of interaction, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov said during a joint statement on the results of talks with President Xi Jinping in Bishkek.
"You have made a huge personal contribution to the strengthening and development of a comprehensive strategic partnership between our countries. We thank you for your continued support of the Kyrgyz Republic. Your visit to our country opens a new historical page of the Kyrgyz-Chinese relations. Today we had very rich and fruitful negotiations. A constructive dialogue took place in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and friendship. We discussed a wide range of issues of Kyrgyz-Chinese cooperation. We have a common position that the Great Silk Road connects us from historical times," said Jeenbekov.
He said that, during the negotiations, they noted the importance of cooperation in the implementation of large joint projects in various fields. Mutual understanding and respect for the position of the partner was achieved on all the issues. During the negotiations, the parties paid great attention to social and economic issues.
"Following the talks, a substantial package of documents was signed. Agreements are concluded on cooperation in the field of agriculture, export and investment. We have signed documents on the establishment of sister city relations between our cities. The main final document was the joint declaration of the Kyrgyz Republic and the People's Republic of China on deepening the relations of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Today, our relations have reached a qualitatively new level of interaction," President Jeenbekov said.
At the end, the head of state thanked his colleague for the substantive and open dialogue.
Kabar News Agency