Xi calls for upgrading practical ties with Kyrgyzstan

President Xi Jinping has called on China and Kyrgyzstan to deepen cooperation in trade, investment and connectivity, while expanding collaboration in emerging fields such as the digital economy, clean energy and artificial intelligence, ahead of his third visit to the Central Asian country.

He made the remarks in a signed article, titled "Jointly Opening Up New Prospects for the High-Quality Development of China-Kyrgyzstan Relations", which was published on Friday in Kyrgyz media outlets.

On Sunday, Xi will begin his state visit to Kyrgyzstan, where he will also attend the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital.

"It will be my third visit to this beautiful land," Xi wrote in the article, saying that he looked forward to working with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov to map out a new blueprint for China-Kyrgyzstan relations and make new progress in building an SCO community with a shared future.

Previously, Xi visited Kyrgyzstan in 2013 and 2019.

Reviewing the development of bilateral ties, Xi said that China and Kyrgyzstan have consistently upheld mutual respect, good-neighborliness, mutual learning and mutual benefit since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992.

"Having stood the test of changing international circumstances, our bilateral ties have made historic leaps from good-neighborly relations to strategic partnership, and then to comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, gaining fresh dynamism with each stage of development," he wrote.

Xi noted that he and Japarov have developed deep mutual trust — both professionally and personally — through their three meetings last year. Despite sluggish global growth, business cooperation between the two countries has continued to make steady progress, Xi said.

China has been Kyrgyzstan's largest trading partner and largest source of foreign investment for many years now.

"Chinese smartphones and electric vehicles have become trendy choices for Kyrgyz consumers, while more and more quality Kyrgyz farm products are making their way into Chinese kitchens," Xi wrote.

He said the two sides have worked together on a number of projects that deliver long-term benefits and real improvements to the lives of local communities.

"Construction of the Kyrgyz section of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is in full swing, the Bedel checkpoint has been temporarily opened prior to full operation, and direct flights between our two countries are growing," Xi wrote.

Noting that mutual benefit and win-win results are essential for the enduring vitality of bilateral cooperation, Xi called on the two sides to focus on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and continuously upgrade practical cooperation.

The two countries should strengthen existing cooperation in trade and investment, connectivity, and green mining, while exploring opportunities in the digital economy, clean energy, artificial intelligence and other emerging fields, Xi said.

He also called for continued progress in building the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, faster revamping of land ports and the advancement of institutional connectivity alongside physical connectivity, in order to facilitate the movement of people and goods.

With heart-to-heart communication as the bridge, China and Kyrgyzstan have kept up vibrant exchanges and mutual learning, Xi said.

China has established one Luban Workshop, four Confucius Institutes and 21 Confucius Classrooms in Kyrgyzstan. The two countries recorded more than 400,000 two-way visits last year, while 30 pairs of sister provinces and cities maintain close ties.

"Our long-standing friendship is an invaluable asset," Xi wrote, calling for broader exchanges in areas such as culture, tourism, art, media, youth affairs, archaeology and health, and between think tanks.

He encouraged more young people to study in each other's countries, and called for more substantive outcomes from subnational exchanges.

On multilateral affairs, Xi congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its historic election as a nonpermanent member of the United Nations Security Council. He said the election presented an opportunity to enhance coordination across the UN, firmly uphold the UN-centered international system and promote international order based on international law.

Xi also called on the two countries to firmly oppose hegemonism, unilateralism and bloc confrontation, jointly combat terrorism, separatism and extremism, and promote a more just and equitable global governance system.

Speaking about the upcoming SCO Summit, Xi praised Kyrgyzstan's work since it took over the organization's rotating presidency, particularly its efforts to build consensus among member states and advance practical cooperation.

China is convinced that with the concerted efforts of all sides, this year's SCO Summit will be a crowning success and will provide fresh impetus for carrying forward the Shanghai Spirit and building an SCO community with a shared future, Xi said.

"China is ready to work with Kyrgyzstan to steadily advance our multifaceted cooperation, channel the streams of our people's goodwill into the river of our two nations' friendship and jointly open up new prospects for the high-quality development of China-Kyrgyzstan relations," he added.