Parliament Speaker Nurlanbek Shakiev attended the second meeting of the Interparliamentary Cooperation Council between the Parliaments of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, the parliament’s press service reported.
“In recent years, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have reached many agreements, and have built a strong foundation for interstate cooperation. In particular, the official visit of President Sadyr Japarov to Kazakhstan opened a new page in relations and gave impetus to development of partnership. In particular, a number of agreements aimed at developing relations were signed,” he said.
At the same time, Parliament Speaker Shakiev, noting the actively developing inter-parliamentary relations, drew attention to the regular bilateral working visits and high-level meetings in recent years.
“Inter-parliamentary diplomacy contributes to improving mutual political dialogue between the two countries, promoting topical issues on the agenda, as well as expanding regulatory framework between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan,” Speaker Nurlanbek Shakiev said, citing as an example that today’s meeting of the Interparliamentary Council is one of the mechanisms for effective development of interparliamentary cooperation.
Speaking about trade and economic issues, Speaker Shakiev said that Kazakhstan is one of Kyrgyzstan’s main partners in this area: “In April 2024, a Kyrgyz-Kazakh business forum was held in Astana, where 9 documents for $300 million were signed. In addition, in order to further improve investment relations, an updated intergovernmental agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investments was also reached,” he said.
Speaker Nurlanbek Shakiev added that according to this, by 2030 it is necessary to bolster bilateral trade to $3 billion with the successful implementation of all agreements.
In addition, Speaker Nurlanbek Shakiev shared his opinion on deepening interregional cooperation and resolving some border issues.
“Despite the agreements reached to build ties between the cities and regions of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, significant work has not been done in these areas. Therefore, we should actively use the potential of Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Interregional Cooperation Forum, established at the initiative of the heads of our states. In addition, we should deepen cultural ties, regularly hold exhibitions, scientific symposiums, round tables, poetry evenings, seminars with participation of creative intellectuals of both countries. These events will help strengthen solidarity of the two fraternal peoples,” he said.
The Chairman of the Mazhlis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Koshanov, touched upon issues in the field of partnership development and expressed his opinion on deepening trade and economic ties.
He emphasized the need to resolve trade and logistics issues, improve the work of border checkpoints, and cooperate in tourism.
Yerlan Koshanov added that opening of the new Almaty-Issyk-Kul route will be one of the main events in these areas.
Speaking about the current state of economic and investment cooperation, Yerlan Koshanov cited as an example jointly implemented projects and Kazakh companies successfully operating in the mining industry of Kyrgyzstan.