Today, on April 28, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov delivered a video address at the launch of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development.

Here is the full text of the head of state's speech:

(Free translation).

"Dear President,
Dear Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Mr. Qiu Dongyu,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen!

I am pleased to welcome all participants to today's event! We are gathered today for a special event related to the opening of the International Year of Sustainable Development. I express my sincere gratitude to the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat for hosting today's global event.

This year, 2022, is an important, meaningful and special year. I am proud that in the year of celebrating the 30th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's accession to the UN, our state is a reliable supporter of the interests of mountain countries in the UN. We have accumulated a great baggage of joint achievements with the UN. Today's event dedicated to the announcement of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development is a good example. In the field of mountain cooperation I remember the first Global Mountain Summit 20 years ago. I am pleased to congratulate our sister countries on the International Year and the 20th anniversary of the Mountain Partnership. I would like to take this opportunity to praise and thank you for the honest work of the Mountain Partnership!

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

I would like to reiterate that Kyrgyzstan fully supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We face many challenges on the road to sustainable development, especially in the mountainous regions. Last year, I spoke at length to the global community about socio-economic and environmental challenges at the UN General Assembly General Debate, the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Cunmin, the Glasgow Climate Summit and the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit held recently in Japan. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the year 2022 was declared in Kyrgyzstan as the Year of Mountain Ecosystems Protection and Climate Sustainability. Within the framework of the declared year, in order to preserve our mountains, a national program called "Green Heritage" has been launched. Within the framework of this program, 6 million seedlings have been planned and started to be planted annually all over the country.

Dear participants of today's event!

In order to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals I call on mountain partner countries to intensify the promotion of our common interests on the global development agenda. In this regard, I call on all of you to join our initiative to adopt a five-year plan for the development of mountain regions. It is my strong hope that the United Nations, together with the mountain countries of the Tien Shan, Altai, Urals, Himalayas, Alps, Cordilleras and Atlas Mountains, will soon support the development and prosperity of the inhabitants of the many mountain regions with beautiful nature.

Let me conclude by assuring you of Kyrgyzstan's openness and readiness for international mountain cooperation.

Thank you for your attention!".