BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 18. Plans are
underway to modernize the infrastructure of the Bedel checkpoint at
the Kyrgyz-Chinese border, Deputy Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan and
Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry,
Bakyt Torobayev said during the 16th meeting of the
Intergovernmental Kyrgyz-Chinese Commission on Trade and Economic
Cooperation with the participation of Deputy Minister of Commerce
and Deputy Representative of China for International Trade
Negotiations Lin Ji, Trend reports.
Torobayev pointed out that the construction of the
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project is moving along step by
step as part of a three-way partnership. He shone a light on the
newly opened Bedel checkpoint, which has made crossing the
Kyrgyz-Chinese border a walk in the park.
“Now, we face the task of modernizing the infrastructure of the
new Bedel checkpoint and jointly working on the construction of the
Barskoon-Uchaturfan-Aksuu road,” he stated.
Additionally, the minister noted that Kyrgyzstan has significant
potential for enhancing trade and economic relations with China in
areas such as the digital economy, agriculture, tourism, renewable
energy, and border trade.
“Cooperation in these areas can benefit both sides. To achieve
this, we need to finalize the creation of protocols for the supply
of certain types of agricultural products and food from Kyrgyzstan
to China,” he added.
During the meeting, it was reported that trade turnover between
the two countries reached $20 billion in 2023, marking a 32 percent
increase compared to the previous year, with nearly $11 billion
achieved from January through July of this year.
The 16th meeting protocol of the Intergovernmental
Kyrgyz-Chinese Commission was signed following the negotiations.
The parties agreed that the final treaty outlining important areas
of cooperation will act as a “roadmap” for the near and medium term
actions of the two countries’ governing bodies.
