Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov met with Vice-Premier of the State Council of China Liu Guozhong, the Cabinet’s press service reported.
“China is one of the main trade and investment partners of Kyrgyzstan. According to the Chinese side, the volume of mutual trade turnover is increasing from year to year, having reached $19.804 billion at the end of 2023. Compared to trade turnover in 2022, the bilateral trade grew by 30%. But I can assure you that this is not the limit, and the Kyrgyz Republic is ready to jointly make efforts to increase all trade and economic indicators,” Cabinet Chairman Japarov said.
The Chairman of the Cabinet emphasized the importance of the full-scale functioning of the Torugart and Irkeshtam border crossing checkpoints, which are the main factor in further increase of bilateral trade.
Kyrgyzstan aims to develop transport and logistics infrastructure, removing restrictions that impede trade exchanges, and creating mutually beneficial conditions in trade, he added.
“We would like to expand our capabilities and switch to daily and round-the-clock operation of these checkpoints 24/7. I believe this will also be useful for the Chinese side, as it will allow an even larger volume of cargo and goods to be exported from China to Kyrgyzstan, and then to third countries. We aim to increase capacity to 1,000 vehicles per day,” Akylbek Japarov said.
Cabinet Chairman Japarov thanked the Chinese side for construction of the Kyrgyz-Chinese Friendship Bridge, which is close to completion.
Another important project that is being implemented near Irkeshtam checkpoint is construction of a conveyor belt with a coal logistics base.
The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers expressed hope that the Chinese investment company will implement a major project according to the approved deadlines and plans.
He asked the Chinese side to assist in accelerating the construction of a supervisory warehouse in the Ulugchat customs zone near the Torugart and Irkeshtam checkpoints for receiving and storing agricultural products of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Kyrgyz side expects active interaction with the line agencies of China in order to sign relevant protocols on new types of agricultural products and simplify procedures for export of these products from Kyrgyzstan to China.
Vice Premier Liu Guozhong noted the high level of Kyrgyz-Chinese relations and readiness to further develop and strengthen mutually beneficial and multifaceted cooperation.
The Vice Premier of China emphasized that construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is of strategic importance for the entire region.
Liu Guozhong also highlighted importance of increasing trade turnover, increasing throughput capacity of border crossing points, opening of Bedel border crossing point this year, and expanding cooperation in the field of tourism.
He stated that the large-scale Chinese market is open to the export of Kyrgyz agricultural products.