MOSCOW, January 22. /TASS/. Kyrgyzstan greatly values its partnership with Russia and is ready to take steps to build relations further, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev said, opening talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
"We highly value and appreciate the established ties of friendship and mutual understanding and are ready to put forth the utmost effort to further expand our interaction," Kulubayev said.
He reiterated that in May 2023, during Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov’s official visit to Russia, the relations between the two countries were elevated to the status of advanced alliance and strategic partnership. "The ties between the two countries hit a new high mark in the centuries-old history of friendship between the peoples," he noted.
The head of the Kyrgyz diplomatic agency noted that every year, the dynamics of political interaction at the high and top levels between Kyrgyzstan and Russia continue to grow. "Last year alone, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov made five working visits to the Russian Federation. The chairman of the cabinet of ministers went to Russia six times, the parliament’s speaker - three times. This shows how active our political dialogue is, as well as the discussion of our bilateral and multilateral issues," he noted.
Kulubayev noted that Bishkek taking over the chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) this year opens additional opportunities to bolster cooperation between the two countries. "The Kyrgyz side is grateful for constant help provided by Russia, assistance within the framework of Eurasian integration, the bolstering of our army’s defense ability and the potential of law enforcement agencies, the prevention of emergencies as well as support in the fields of education and healthcare," Kulubayev said.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that during the meeting today, the two top diplomats will sign the cooperation program between the foreign ministries of Russia and Kyrgyzstan for 2025-2027 as well as discuss the issues of Eurasian integration, global and regional security, and coordination of joint steps on international venues.