Bishkek, Nov. 26, 2025. /Kabar/. Kyrgyz Republic President Sadyr Zhaparov made a statement to the media today, November 26, following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek.
In his speech, he noted the symbolism of Vladimir Putin's visit, which takes place on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Eternal Friendship, Alliance, and Partnership between the two countries.
"Kyrgyz-Russian relations are shaped by the centuries-old friendship between our peoples, close cultural and humanitarian ties, and a shared historical heritage.
I would like to reiterate the Kyrgyz Republic's unwavering commitment to strengthening our allied relations and strategic partnership with the Russian Federation.
I would like to especially emphasize that this partnership is in the long-term national interests of our country.
During our informal talks yesterday, Vladimir Vladimirovich and I discussed pressing issues on the current agenda across wide range of areas.
We noted with satisfaction the high level of Kyrgyz-Russian cooperation and provided a detailed overview of the implementation of all of our agreements reached during our meeting in Moscow in July of this year.
Today, in an expanded format, with the participation of the heads of key ministries and agencies of the two countries, we discussed wide range of issues in traditionally trusting atmosphere. We noted the steady progress on many issues and issued corresponding instructions in certain areas.
It should be noted that we have given high, even positive, assessment of our bilateral cooperation at virtually all levels.
Our government agencies have received instructions from us to accelerate joint efforts to fill the bilateral agenda with new promising areas and identify new areas of mutual interest.
A new package of bilateral documents in the areas of education, healthcare, migration, security, economic, and military-technical cooperation was just signed in your presence.
I am pleased to add that the legal framework between our countries comprises over 400 documents. We arguably have no other foreign country with such large number of signed interstate, intergovernmental, and interdepartmental documents.
Of course, we consider the Joint Statement on Deepening the Alliance and Strategic Partnership, which outlines the main aspects of cooperation between our countries, to be an important outcome of the agreements.
We highly appreciated the traditionally close cooperation between our countries within international organizations and integration associations such as the UN, CIS, EAEU, CSTO, and SCO.
Regarding many key issues on the international and regional agenda, we have similar approaches. I express my gratitude to the Russian side for our fruitful joint work during our CSTO chairmanship this year. We look forward to similar cooperation during the Kyrgyz Republic's chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
We agree that the Russian air base stationed in Kant is important component of the CSTO Collective Rapid Deployment Forces and a significant factor in maintaining stability in Central Asia.
We paid special attention to trade and economic cooperation.
I would like to remind you that Russia is one of Kyrgyzstan's main trading partners, accounting for 22% of our trade turnover. In other words, Russia accounts for almost quarter of Kyrgyzstan's total foreign trade. We were pleased to note the progress we are making toward our shared goal of reaching the $5 billion mark in mutual trade in the coming years.
The investment sector is particularly important. The volume of Russian direct investment in the first six months of this year amounted to $110 million. We always welcome the interest of Russian business circles in the Kyrgyz Republic market and are ready to create the necessary favorable conditions for their successful operations.
According to our data as of November 2025, over 1,800 companies with Russian participation operate in Kyrgyzstan, accounting for one-third of the total number of foreign companies.
To further this momentum, we fully support the initiative of our Russian partners to establish the Association of Russian Investors in Kyrgyzstan. The association is intended to become an effective platform for dialogue between our business communities, between Russian investors, and Kyrgyz government agencies. We also reviewed the results of the most recent meeting of the Kyrgyz-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Humanitarian Cooperation, held yesterday in Bishkek.
As for Russian- Kyrgyz Development Fund, which is key driver in advancing bilateral economic relations. Since its establishment, the Fund has invested over one billion US dollars in the Kyrgyz economy, financing more than three and half thousand projects across all regions of the country. Thus, the total investment volume has already doubled the Fund's initial authorized capital. To date, the Fund is participating in financing the construction of 14 hydropower and renewable energy facilities totaling over $175 million.
We exchanged views on cooperation through the Eurasian Development Bank and the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development.
As usual, we paid special attention to education, where we also noted fruitful cooperation. Over sixteen thousand Kyrgyz students are studying at Russian universities, half of whom are on state-funded scholarships financed by the Russian side. We noted with satisfaction the large-scale plans for the scientific and technical modernization of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, one of the flagships of higher education in the republic. Today's signing of the Agreement on the Construction of a New University Campus marks the beginning of this important undertaking.
Our large-scale socially significant initiative with Vladimir Putin to build nine schools in the Kyrgyz Republic is being consistently implemented, three of which are scheduled to open their doors to students in 2027. Russian language is the language not only of Pushkin and Tolstoy, but also of our great writer Aitmatov, and is maintained with respect.
The "Russian Teacher Abroad" humanitarian project, through which teachers from Russia assist with Russian language learning in the regions of Kyrgyzstan, is demonstrating its high demand.
There are many joint projects underway through Rossotrudnichestvo and the ANO Eurasia, which are of vital importance for the country's social sphere. At the initiative and with the full support of the ANO "Eurasia," the largest family recreation park in Kyrgyzstan and the entire Central Asian region, "Eurasia," opened in our capital in August.
At our direction, our countries have begun to develop an educational space based on the integration of the best practices of the two countries' educational systems. Cultural ties between the peoples of our countries are actively developing and expanding. Culture Days were held in Russia and Kyrgyzstan to great success and mutual admiration.
The Kyrgyz House of Science and Culture in Moscow, which will soon open its doors, will further strengthen cultural ties. We are grateful to our Russian friends for their practical assistance in implementing this initiative.
We also discussed the issue of migration.
We confirmed our mutual interest in ensuring the legal residence of our compatriots in Russia, providing them with decent working conditions and the required social guarantees. We agreed to continue working with our relevant ministries in this important area.
Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, the results of your state visit to the Kyrgyz Republic allow us to look with optimism to the further development of Kyrgyz-Russian relations.
I am confident that your visit once again confirmed the exceptional strength of the Kyrgyz-Russian alliance and strategic partnership and has given significant impetus to their further deepening," Sadyr Zhaparov said in his speech.