Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister: Bishkek and Tashkent will continue to move forward together

Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister, Jeenbek Kulubayev, stated that Bishkek and Tashkent will continue to move forward together, and the strategic partnership and allied ties between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will continue to strengthen.

Kulubayev congratulated the Uzbek people on the anniversary of independence, noting the significant progress the country has achieved over the past 35 years. He noted that one of Uzbekistan's key successes has been the strengthening of peace, stability, and good-neighborliness in Central Asia.

The Kyrgyz Foreign Minister placed particular emphasis on resolving border issues between the two countries. He called the agreements reached a major diplomatic breakthrough of historic significance for the region.

Kulubayev noted that relations between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have reached an "unprecedentedly high level" in recent years. The state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan and the signing of the Treaty on Allied Relations were important milestones.

Among the most important joint initiatives, the minister highlighted the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. According to him, this highway will significantly strengthen transport connectivity in Central Asia and transform the region's logistics configuration.

Kulubayev cited the construction of the Kambarata-1 Hydroelectric Power Station, which Kyrgyzstan is implementing jointly with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, as another strategic project.

Economic cooperation is also actively developing. Thirty-seven projects totaling over $100 million have already been approved under the Uzbek-Kyrgyz Development Fund, and their implementation has created approximately 900 jobs.

The minister emphasized the prospects for increasing mutual trade to $3 billion. According to him, since the beginning of 2026, trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has grown by 45%, reaching $624.6 million.

The parties are also expanding cooperation in industry, agriculture, energy, logistics, and digitalization. In particular, projects are being implemented on digital identification, electronic document management, and the creation of a unified payment ecosystem.

Kulubayev also noted the importance of cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries. According to him, the shared history and closeness of peoples form a solid foundation for the development of educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges.

Speaking about Uzbekistan's future, the minister expressed confidence that in 10-15 years, the country will become an even stronger and more influential state, one of the key centers of Central Asia.

"As the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, I want to say that we will continue to follow this path together with Uzbekistan," Kulubayev stated.

He also expressed confidence that the strategic partnership and allied relations between the two countries will continue to strengthen, laying the foundation for the development and prosperity of all of Central Asia.