Distinguished Mr.Syzdykov,

Distinguished Members of Parliament, representatives of Government,

Distinguished Ambassadors,

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

  I welcome you with great pleasure at the official reception on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the Independence Day of the Kyrgyz Republic. The main achievement of the past years is stability and sustainable development, which Kyrgyzstan demonstrates under the leadership of President Sooronbay Zheenbekov.

The President of the Kyrgyz Republic S.Sh.Zheenbekov approved the National Development Strategy of the country for 2018-2040, the overall goal of which is to improve the level and quality of life of citizens through sustainable economic growth. It includes issues of improving the quality of health care, education, the ecological environment, investment climate and export growth, as well as the development of priority sectors of the economy.

Today Kyrgyzstan is a democratic state with a national consensus and respect for political pluralism. This is a country where citizens themselves decide their fate by participating actively in the political, economic and social life of the state.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to assure the Ambassadors of a number of states that are accredited concurrently in Kyrgyzstan that the situation in Kyrgyzstan is stable, democratic processes are permanently developing, society is purposefully being cleared from corruption.

Today Kyrgyzstan is a dynamically developing diversified economy, where foreign investors are widely represented, including from Kazakhstan.

The main result for the Kyrgyz economy in 2018 and in the first half of 2019 has been holding of the positive growth dynamics and the achievement of the projected level of economic growth.

The volume of GDP amounted to 557,1 billion soms, and the real growth rate - 3,5%. Economic growth has been ensured by all sectors of the economy: in agriculture the volumes increased by 2,7%, construction - by 7,8%, services - by 2,1%, industry - by 5,5%, tourism - by 5% .

The volume of GDP in January-August 2019 amounted to more than 334 billion soms and increased by 6,2 percent compared to January-August 2018, while the growth amounted to 3,0%.

The financial partner of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic is the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund, which as of January 1, 2019 approved 1653 projects for a total amount of 303,9 million US dollars.

The positive growth of production in all sectors of the economy gave practical effect in terms of creating new industries in the regions of the country and new jobs. At the same time, I would like to note that in 2018 more than 500 new small and medium–sized enterprises were opened and launched throughout the country. The share of small and medium-sized businesses in the total runway volume amounted to 38,2%.

The foreign trade turnover of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2018 amounted to 6672 million US dollars and increased by 6,6%, including export which amounted to 1764,6 million US dollars and formed at the level of 2017, import – 4907,4 million US dollars and has increased by 9,2%.

At the same time the export to the EAEU countries has increased by 5,0% due to an increase in export of light and textile products by 15,4%, ferrous metals – for 6 times, non-ferrous metals – for 2,4 times, etc.

Today Kyrgyzstan is an active link in the system of international relations. In June this year the SCO summit has been successfully held in Bishkek with the participation of 12 heads of state, the important political decisions were adopted at the summit, aimed at further strengthening good neighborliness, friendship and cooperation of the states united by the «Shanghai spirit».

The Kyrgyz Republic also pursues a multi-vector and balanced foreign policy. Cooperation with the countries of Central Asia and creation of a favorable environment is the main priority of my country.

In this context I would like to note that the neighboring fraternal country of the Republic of Kazakhstan was among the first to recognize the independence of the Kyrgyz Republic. The relations between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are a worthy example of the successful interaction and cooperation of two fraternal peoples. They are cemented by an unprecedented level of trust in each other the coincidence of conceptual approaches to a wide range of international problems and the desire for joint development.

For 28 years Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have formed a solid legal framework, built truly good-neighborly, deeply friendly relations, and established mutually beneficial cooperation, including in international affairs, where we have a complete coincidence of views and positions. The meetings and numerous contacts at the level of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic S.Zheenbekov with the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbayev and the new President of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev,

held in 2018-2019, once again demonstrate that the leaders of our states, relying on the will of the peoples, are full of determination to continue and develop a course for deepening and strengthening strategic partnership relations and interaction both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of the UN, CIS, CSTO, SCO and EAEU.

The specific issues of the prospects for the development of trade and economic cooperation were discussed at a meeting of the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic M.Abylgaziev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.Mamin in Bishkek on July 12, 2011. The parties agreed to bring the volume of bilateral trade to 1 billion US dollars by the end of this year and promote joint projects in the field of infrastructure, energy and communications, in the field of mining, in the agricultural sector and tourism.

In November this year the state visit of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev to the Kyrgyz Republic is being planned. We are confident that the visit will succeed and open up wide opportunities for cooperation for both sides, and will give new chances for mutually beneficial cooperation. It is in the interests of our two countries and peoples to enrich the Kyrgyz-Kazakh cooperation with new content, to develop it confidently and dynamically.

I would like to end my speech with the verses of the famous Kyrgyz poet:

We have one language

And our soul is one

And if misfortune is overwhelming

I know who will be the first to come

Because there is no one more dearer than Kazakh.

 

Looking at you I will stay full

Seeing you my soul is singing

Because at the time of misfortune

Who will come and help

No one is dearer than Kazakh.

 

Thank you. Long live the Kyrgyz-Kazakh friendship!