'Kyrgyz president's visit to Turkey signals new era in ties'
Sadyr Japarov to discuss current issues, bilateral cooperation with Turkish counterpart, says Kyrgyz official
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan
The first official visit by Kyrgyzstan’s president to Turkey set for June 9-11 will herald a new era in relations between the two countries, an official said.
Sadyr Japarov, who took office at the beginning of this year, will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his three-day official visit, said Dastan Dusekeyev, foreign policy chief for the Kyrgyzstan Presidency.
Dusekeyev said the two leaders will exchange views on current issues as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation within the framework of the Turkic Council.
The 5th meeting of the Kyrgyzstan and Turkey Strategic Cooperation High Council will be held with the participation of both presidents, Dusekeyev said.
He said the Kyrgyz president will also meet with Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop during his visit.
Japarov will also address businesspeople at the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Business Forum and will meet with Kyrgyzstan citizens, students, and representatives of NGOs operating in Ankara.
Kyrgyzstan's fight against coronavirus pandemic, armed tensions on the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border in recent weeks and the rapid changes in Kyrgyz domestic politics make Japarov 's visit to Ankara more significant.
Kyrgyzstan-Turkey relations
Turkey was the first country to recognize the independence of Kyrgyzstan on Dec. 16, 1991.
Diplomatic relations between two countries were established on Jan.29, 1992. The Embassies were reciprocally opened in Bishkek and Ankara in 1992.
The “Agreement on Eternal Friendship and Cooperation” was signed by the Turkey's eighth President Turgut Ozal and first Kyrgyzstan’s President Askar Akayev in 1997.
Also, two countries signed a joint statement on "Establishment of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council" in 2012.
Turkey ranks first among the countries that provide most developmental and social aid to Kyrgyzstan, especially through the state-run Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency.
According to data from the Kyrgyzstan National Statistical Committee, Turkey ranks fourth among the countries that make most of investments in Kyrgyzstan following Russia, China and Kazakhstan.
Nearly 300 Turkish companies currently operating in the country have a trade volume of more than $400 million.
*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara
