UNIPATH STAFF
Recently appointed Kyrgyz Foreign Minster Ruslan Kazakbayev made Kazakhstan one of his first diplomatic stops, visiting the capital of Nur-Sultan in October 2020 to discuss economic, security and cultural issues.
Kazakbayev reassured Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister Askar Mamim and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi that Kyrgyzstan, despite a change of government in mid-2020, would adhere to the spirit of the regional cooperation and strategic partnership.
Among the topics of discussion were trade and investment, transit and transport, water and energy, and containing the COVID-19 epidemic. Tleuberdi sought reassurances that Kyrgyzstan would prioritize law and order to protect Kazakhstani citizens living in Kyrgyzstan.
“The main purpose of my visit is to reassure the Kazakh side that Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy course remains unchanged amid the internal political changes,” Kazakbayev said.
Both countries have expressed support for helping stabilize Afghanistan to support Central Asian security. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reached out to Kyrgyzstan’s new government with a message of friendship.
“Kyrgyzstan is a valued friend and a committed partner that shares deep historical, religious and cultural ties with Afghanistan,” Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar announced. “I look forward to working with His Excellency Kazakbayev to further strengthen our bilateral political and economic relations and enhance our cooperation within regional and multilateral settings.”
Sources: primeminister.kz, Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Astana Times