Kyrgyzstan and China begin construction of Barskoon-Uchturfan-Aksu road

09:42, 26 июня 2024, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Meerimai ALYBEKOVA

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov, as part of a working trip to the city of Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, met with Ma Xingrui, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China, Secretary of the Party Committee of the XUAR of the People’s Republic of China. The press service of the Cabinet of Ministers reported.

The parties discussed issues in the trade, economic, transport, checkpoints, energy, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

It is noted that at year-end 2023, the volume of mutual trade between Kyrgyzstan and China amounted to $19,804 billion.

The Kyrgyz side attaches particular importance to the issue of expanding the export of agricultural products from Kyrgyzstan to China, where Xinjiang plays a key role as a gateway to the Chinese market. To do this, according to China’s internal procedures, there must be a control warehouse for receiving and storing agricultural products at the customs territory of Ulugchat checkpoint; 13 hectares of land have been allocated for the construction of the warehouse.

«I also propose to consider the construction of e-commerce and logistics centers as another promising area. Land is provided in Osh and Naryn regions of Kyrgyzstan for the construction of a trade and logistics complex,» Akylbek Japarov said.

The parties noted that the full operation of Irkeshtam and Torugart checkpoints is a key factor in the further growth of mutual trade between the two countries. Thus, the construction of Kyrgyz-Chinese Friendship Bridge is being completed at Irkeshtam checkpoint. The benefits of expanding border roads, building a conveyor belt and a logistics base were also noted.

During the negotiations, the parties agreed to open a new Bedel checkpoint on the Kyrgyz-Chinese state border this year, as well as to begin construction of Barskoon — Uchturfan — Aksu road.

The parties also touched upon the construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, called the project of the century. A trilateral commercial agreement is expected to be signed soon.

Akylbek Japarov noted that cooperation with China in the field of energy, including the implementation of projects on renewable energy sources, is promising for both countries.

As for cultural and humanitarian cooperation, the head of the Cabinet of Ministers proposed organizing a concert in Kyrgyzstan by a theater group and a folk ensemble consisting of artists from ethnic Kyrgyz of China.

Ma Xingrui, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, expressed his readiness to support all projects of interest to both sides.

«I am sure that effective Kyrgyz-Chinese strategic multifaceted cooperation will reach a new level under the leadership of the heads of state of the two countries. China attaches special importance to the development of relations with Kyrgyzstan. In addition, XUAR is one of the largest regions. Checkpoints between the two countries also border the XUAR, and the Chinese side is interested in their full functioning. We will make all necessary efforts to maintain the growing trend of mutual trade,» he said.