Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov was on an official visit in Astana on April 19, where he held talks with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and co-chaired the sixth meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
President Tokayev expressed gratitude to Sadyr Japarov and the people of Kyrgyzstan for the fraternal humanitarian assistance provided in connection with large-scale spring floods that hit several regions of Kazakhstan.
Tokayev presented President Japarov with the Order of Dostyk (Friendship), 1st degree for his big contribution to the development of Kyrgyz-Kazakh relations.
The meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council discussed deepening of bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment, transport, and agriculture, as well as joint use of water and energy resources in the region.
The presidents of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan signed an Agreement on Deepening and Expanding Allied Relations.
“Kazakhstan is our close neighbor, a fraternal country and one of our main trading partners. Kazakhstan is a priority in our foreign policy. There are no political or regional differences between our countries,” President Japarov said during his talks with the Kazakh leader.
President Tokayev, in turn, said that there should be no unresolved issues between the two neighboring countries.
According to Tokayev, Kazakhstan is one of the key partners of Kyrgyzstan in the field of trade and investment. Last year, mutual trade turnover reached $1.5 billion, but the two countries intend to increase the figure to $2 billion.
Today, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan also signed an Agreement on Mutual Protection of Investments.
Tokayev said that modernization has been started at checkpoints on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border, to equip them with digital technologies. This work is to be completed by 2028.
The Kazakh president also emphasized the importance of interaction in the water and energy sector. “In recent years, the urgency of efficient and equitable use of transboundary water resources has increased. We have agreed to continue our coordinated work and approve the work schedule of interstate water management structures and implement it in a timely manner,” Tokayev said.
President Japarov, in turn, announced that the two countries have agreed to resume the operation of Kichi-Kapka and Kamyshanovka checkpoints on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border. The move will help reduce the chronic congestions of cargo vehicles at the existing checkpoints.
Photo: akorda.kz
