ISTANBUL (AA)

China and Kyrgyzstan have extended their Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation until 2026, as the two countries signed a new agreement aligning the massive infrastructure project with Kyrgyzstan’s national development strategy, officials said Wednesday.

As part of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov’s state visit to Beijing, he and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping signed a joint declaration on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership, according to a statement issued by the Kyrgyz presidency.

In addition to the BRI cooperation program, both sides formalized agreements on trade, the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI), social security, energy, and infrastructure.

Other agreements include Chinese assistance for Kyrgyzstan’s judicial information system, medical equipment for hospitals, and economic reforms.

Kyrgyzstan first joined the BRI in 2013, and the initiative has since played a key role in major infrastructure and trade projects between the two nations.

Japarov is on a state visit to China, and the two leaders held talks at the Great Hall of the People in the capital, Beijing.

"Over the years, China-Kyrgyzstan relations have realized leapfrog growth and reached the new height of a comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era," Xi told Japarov.

He added, "China is ready to work closely with Kyrgyzstan to achieve more significant outcomes in building a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future."

“We see that China is steadily advancing its high-quality development and sharing its valuable experience in poverty alleviation, development, and other critical areas with other countries,” Japarov told state-run Xinhua News.

The Central Asian leader’s visit to China continues through Friday.

He said China's modernization efforts would bring new opportunities not only to Kyrgyzstan but also to the entire Central Asian region and other developing countries.

"At present, we need to strengthen economic and trade collaboration, diversify trade, and promote joint investment projects that align with our shared interests," he said.

Japarov last visited China in 2023.

China is Kyrgyzstan's largest trading partner and an important source of investment, and the bilateral trade volume last year climbed to $22.71 billion.

Thai premier's visit

Separately, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Wednesday embarked on an official trip to China.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand.

Xi is expected to host Paetongtarn for bilateral talks as the two sides move to enhance bilateral ties, including further expanding economic cooperation.

Ahead of her trip, Paetongtarn’s Cabinet approved phase II of the China-Thailand High-Speed Railway, a flagship infrastructure project under Beijing’s trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.

This would also be the Southeast Asian country’s first standard-gauge high-speed railway.