President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov today, July 21, spoke at the Fourth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul region.
In his speech, the Head of State noted (the full text):
“This and next year we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the past centuries of strong friendship and harmonious coexistence of our five fraternal peoples, together we have withstood all the ups and downs of history, and today we are listed on the political map of the world as independent, sovereign states.
It is our ancient peoples, carrying a unique civilization through the centuries, that today personify Central Asia. This is a common asset that we are proud of!
The historical mission before us is to preserve the integrity and security, to ensure the development and prosperity of our countries and peoples. Fortunately, our region is self-sufficient and diverse in terms of opportunities and resources for the implementation of such an important mission.
Kyrgyzstan supports the format of the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, which is a conductor of regional cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres and in international affairs.
I believe that in the current crisis conditions of international relations, our countries will cooperate even more closely in order to protect and promote the common interests of the region on the world stage.
Unfortunately, the international environment does not inspire optimism, both in terms of global security and the world economy.
Today, the Central Asian states face traditional security challenges and threats, and their new hybrid forms have emerged.
In this regard, I cannot but touch upon a very important issue that continues to have a significant impact on regional security in Central Asia. I mean the situation in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the situation there continues to be complex and unpredictable.
In our opinion, the coming to power of the Taliban and the government formed by him is a harsh reality, and we need to develop a joint line of conduct in this direction, including making every effort to ensure that neighboring Afghanistan embarks on the path of peaceful and sustainable development.
In this context, I would like to note the desire of Kyrgyzstan to closely cooperate with the countries of the Central Asian region in this direction, both on a bilateral basis and as part of participation in international and regional dialogue platforms.
I would also like to inform you that we are in contact with the government of Afghanistan on current issues of bilateral cooperation. Our embassy continues to function there. Last year, we delivered humanitarian cargo to Kabul and Afghan Badakhshan. We held a number of meetings with the leadership of Afghanistan, during which we expressed our concern on a number of issues of regional security and cooperation, as well as the importance in the interests of the people of Afghanistan to create an inclusive government.
I hope that we will move in concert on the Afghan problem, actively interact with each other, especially with the UN and the countries of the region in order to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan, provide the Afghan people with the necessary humanitarian and economic assistance, and assist them in their fight against international terrorism, drugs and in matters of ensuring regional security and stability, on the principles of non-interference in internal affairs. Kyrgyzstan, for its part, is ready to actively contribute to this process.
Dear Heads of State,
The tragic events in the region brought to the fore the issues of ensuring security from destructive forces, including external forces that attract religious fanatics and criminals to their side.
For its part, Kyrgyzstan fully supports the decisive and wise actions of the leadership of neighboring countries to restore constitutional order and socio-political stability.
It is no longer possible to allow such security crises created for far-fetched socio-economic, inter-ethnic, religious and other motives.
I call for uniting mutual efforts in this direction.
Finally, common security, stability and well-being depend on the atmosphere of relations between the states of the region. Currently, work continues on the delimitation of the state border of Kyrgyzstan with fraternal Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
I would like to confirm our political will to complete the negotiation process in a mutually beneficial manner in order to turn these borders into open bridges of peace, friendship and trust, and the Fergana Valley itself into a true oasis of Central Asia.
Dear colleagues,
The global economy, which has not yet fully recovered from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, is now experiencing new shocks due to international tensions.
In such a crisis, the issues of ensuring food and energy security, macroeconomic stability and social stability require our priority attention and coordinated action.
Due to the disruption of global trade chains and the imposed export restrictions on goods and raw materials, I believe that our countries are quite capable of providing themselves with food, given the capacities and reserves of the agricultural and food processing industries.
We stand for expanded cooperation in all areas that will increase food security and agricultural development in the region.
One of these areas is water resources, the volume of which is irrevocably reduced due to climate change. The existing mechanisms for managing water resources no longer meet the realities of the present, do not meet the needs of the countries of Central Asia.
In particular, Kyrgyzstan does not yet receive adequate compensation from the accumulation and conservation of water resources. I again propose to jointly develop mutually beneficial mechanisms for water use, so that the upstream countries have the opportunity and interest to accumulate water resources for irrigation during the growing season, regardless of water availability, including during low water periods, for several years to come.
We stand for the renewal and improvement of cooperation within the framework of the Agreement on the Use of Water and Energy Resources of the Naryn-Syrdarya River between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan of 1998, which provides for a balanced exchange of water and energy resources.
Kyrgyzstan also advocates expanded cooperation in the hydropower sector in order to increase the energy self-sufficiency and security of the countries of Central Asia.
We welcome the investment participation of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in hydropower projects in Kyrgyzstan. It should be noted that the accident that took place in the spring of this year showed vulnerability, and therefore it is necessary to strengthen the security of the Unified Energy System of Central Asia.
Dear Heads of State,
According to expert forecasts, the global economic “center of gravity” is gradually shifting towards Asia, which opens up new opportunities for our region, including for the development of “green”, digital and creative sectors of the economy.
Over the past ten years, dynamic rates of economic growth and gross product growth have been observed in Central Asia. In 2021, the total share of GDP exceeded three hundred billion US dollars.
I believe that the driver of growth in Central Asia is free trade and investment, the development of transport and transit infrastructure and digitalization. Today there are already positive examples of mutually beneficial cooperation in these sectors.
Trade intensification will be facilitated by the established border trade centers on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as an industrial trade and logistics center near the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border.
It is extremely important to completely remove tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede free trade, including unjustified delays of goods at the borders. I hope that digitalization tools will help solve the accumulated issues.
Considering that our countries have no access to the sea, it is necessary to make efforts to improve the transport, transit and logistics infrastructure of the countries of Central Asia, primarily in terms of increasing the level of integration within the region, as well as connecting to world transport hubs and corridors.
The development of rail and road corridors in the coming decades could transform Central Asia into a crossroads for new trade routes that will rival the historic Silk Road in importance.
An important project is the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, the successful implementation of which will significantly increase the international trade, investment and transit potential of Central Asia.
Being on the shore of Issyk-Kul, I cannot ignore the issues of cooperation in the field of tourism.
Central Asia on the way of the Great Transcontinental Route attracts tourists from all over the world like a magnet.
Kyrgyzstan proposes the joint organization of specialized tourist routes, the introduction of relaxations when tourists cross common borders, the formation of information centers with a database of tourism opportunities for each of the countries of the region, as well as the holding of common tourism exhibitions and fairs, the release of common advertising materials.
Dear colleagues,
The global economy, which has not yet fully recovered from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, is now experiencing new shocks due to international tensions.
In such a crisis, the issues of ensuring food and energy security, macroeconomic stability and social stability require our priority attention and coordinated action.
Due to the disruption of global trade chains and the imposed export restrictions on goods and raw materials, I believe that our countries are quite capable of providing themselves with food, given the capacities and reserves of the agricultural and food processing industries.
We stand for expanded cooperation in all areas that will increase food security and agricultural development in the region.
One of these areas is water resources, the volume of which is irrevocably reduced due to climate change. The existing mechanisms for managing water resources no longer meet the realities of the present, do not meet the needs of the countries of Central Asia.
In particular, Kyrgyzstan does not yet receive adequate compensation from the accumulation and conservation of water resources. I again propose to jointly develop mutually beneficial mechanisms for water use, so that the upstream countries have the opportunity and interest to accumulate water resources for irrigation during the growing season, regardless of water availability, including during low water periods, for several years to come.
We stand for the renewal and improvement of cooperation within the framework of the Agreement on the Use of Water and Energy Resources of the Naryn-Syrdarya River between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan of 1998, which provides for a balanced exchange of water and energy resources.
Kyrgyzstan also advocates expanded cooperation in the hydropower sector in order to increase the energy self-sufficiency and security of the countries of Central Asia.
We welcome the investment participation of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in hydropower projects in Kyrgyzstan. It should be noted that the accident that took place in the spring of this year showed vulnerability, and therefore it is necessary to strengthen the security of the Unified Energy System of Central Asia.
Dear Heads of State,
According to expert forecasts, the global economic “center of gravity” is gradually shifting towards Asia, which opens up new opportunities for our region, including for the development of “green”, digital and creative sectors of the economy.
Over the past ten years, dynamic rates of economic growth and gross product growth have been observed in Central Asia. In 2021, the total share of GDP exceeded three hundred billion US dollars.
I believe that the driver of growth in Central Asia is free trade and investment, the development of transport and transit infrastructure and digitalization. Today there are already positive examples of mutually beneficial cooperation in these sectors.
Trade intensification will be facilitated by the established border trade centers on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as an industrial trade and logistics center near the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border.
It is extremely important to completely remove tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede free trade, including unjustified delays of goods at the borders. I hope that digitalization tools will help solve the accumulated issues.
Considering that our countries have no access to the sea, it is necessary to make efforts to improve the transport, transit and logistics infrastructure of the countries of Central Asia, primarily in terms of increasing the level of integration within the region, as well as connecting to world transport hubs and corridors.
The development of rail and road corridors in the coming decades could transform Central Asia into a crossroads for new trade routes that will rival the historic Silk Road in importance.
An important project is the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, the successful implementation of which will significantly increase the international trade, investment and transit potential of Central Asia.
Being on the shore of Issyk-Kul, I cannot ignore the issues of cooperation in the field of tourism.
Central Asia on the way of the Great Transcontinental Route attracts tourists from all over the world like a magnet.
Kyrgyzstan proposes the joint organization of specialized tourist routes, the introduction of relaxations when tourists cross common borders, the formation of information centers with a database of tourism opportunities for each of the countries of the region, as well as the holding of common tourism exhibitions and fairs, the release of common advertising materials.
Source: Press Service of the President of Kyrgyzstan
Cholpon-Ata, 21 July, 2022