India-Kyrgyzstan Ties On The Upswing
President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Sooronbay Sharipovich Jeenbekov, graced the Swearing-in Ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi, on May 30, 2019. He was one of the world leaders invited to the function apart from leaders of the BIMSTEC grouping and the Prime Minister of Mauritius.
Kyrgyzstan is the current Chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and is an important partner of India in Central Asia. President Jeenbekov warmly congratulated the Indian Prime Minister and reiterated the invitation for him to visit Kyrgyzstan for the SCO Summit and a bilateral visit from 13-15 June, 2019.
Recalling that India and Kyrgyzstan have warm and friendly relations, Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction at the strengthening of bilateral cooperation over the years. Mr. Modi warmly thanked President Jeenbekov for his presence at the Swearing-in Ceremony and expressed his gratitude for the invitation to visit Kyrgyzstan. He said that he looked forward to the visit eagerly.
Historically, India has had close contacts with Central Asia, especially countries which were part of the Ancient Silk Route, including Kyrgyzstan. During the Soviet era, India and the then Kyrgyz Republic had limited political, economic and cultural contacts. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Bishkek and Issyk-Kul Lake in 1985. Since the independence of Kyrgyz Republic on 31st August, 1991, India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations on 18 March 1992; the resident Mission of India was set up on 23 May 1994.
Political ties with the Kyrgyz Republic have been traditionally warm and friendly. Kyrgyzstan also supports India’s bid for permanent seat at UNSC. Bishkek lent its support for India’s full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Both countries share common concerns on threat of terrorism, extremism and drug–trafficking. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the two countries have signed several framework agreements, including on Culture, Trade and Economic Cooperation, Civil Aviation, Investment Promotion and Protection, Avoidance of Double Taxation, Consular Convention etc.
India announced its Connect Central Asia Policy during the visit of the then Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, to Kyrgyzstan on 10-13 June 2012 with the first India-Central Asia Track-II Dialogue held in Bishkek. India established ‘e-Network’ in Central Asia to promote tele-medicine and tele-education. The then Indian External Affairs Minister visited Kyrgyzstan in September 2013 to participate in the SCO Summit. On the side-lines of the SCO Summit, the Indian Minister had bilateral meetings with the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Mongolian President Elbegdorg and SCO Secretary General Mazentsev.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kyrgyzstan in July 2015. That visit by an Indian Prime Minister took place after a gap of 20 years. Prime Minister Modi held meetings with then Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, Speaker Asylbek Jeenbekov and Prime Minister Temir Sariyev. During his visit Mr. Modi laid a wreath at Victory Square; gifted medical equipment to the Field Hospital; visited Kyrgyz-India Mountain Bio Medical Research Centre; inaugurated Tele-medicine links between hospitals in Kyrgyzstan with super specialty hospitals in India and unveiled Mahatma Gandhi’s statue. Four MoUs/Agreements in the field of Defence Cooperation, Culture, Election and Standardisation were signed. A joint statement by the Indian Prime Minister and Kyrgyz President was issued. The then President of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Almazbek Atambaev later paid a state visit to India in December, 2016.
India-Kyrgyz trade was at US$ 24.98 million in 2016-17. India’s exports to Kyrgyzstan was US$ 22.66 million; whereas Kyrgyz exports to India was US$2.32 million. Apparel and clothing, leather goods, drugs & pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and tea are some of the important items in India’s export basket to Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz exports to India consists of raw hides, metalifers ores & metal scrap etc.
Technical assistance under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, particularly in terms of human resources development, is the cornerstone of India’s economic involvement in Kyrgyzstan.
The visit of President Jeenbekov to New Delhi and Prime Minister Modi’s ensuing visit to Bishkek are sure to take the bilateral relations forward.
Script: Padam Singh, AIR: News Analyst
Kyrgyzstan is the current Chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and is an important partner of India in Central Asia. President Jeenbekov warmly congratulated the Indian Prime Minister and reiterated the invitation for him to visit Kyrgyzstan for the SCO Summit and a bilateral visit from 13-15 June, 2019.
Recalling that India and Kyrgyzstan have warm and friendly relations, Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction at the strengthening of bilateral cooperation over the years. Mr. Modi warmly thanked President Jeenbekov for his presence at the Swearing-in Ceremony and expressed his gratitude for the invitation to visit Kyrgyzstan. He said that he looked forward to the visit eagerly.
Historically, India has had close contacts with Central Asia, especially countries which were part of the Ancient Silk Route, including Kyrgyzstan. During the Soviet era, India and the then Kyrgyz Republic had limited political, economic and cultural contacts. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Bishkek and Issyk-Kul Lake in 1985. Since the independence of Kyrgyz Republic on 31st August, 1991, India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations on 18 March 1992; the resident Mission of India was set up on 23 May 1994.
Political ties with the Kyrgyz Republic have been traditionally warm and friendly. Kyrgyzstan also supports India’s bid for permanent seat at UNSC. Bishkek lent its support for India’s full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Both countries share common concerns on threat of terrorism, extremism and drug–trafficking. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the two countries have signed several framework agreements, including on Culture, Trade and Economic Cooperation, Civil Aviation, Investment Promotion and Protection, Avoidance of Double Taxation, Consular Convention etc.
India announced its Connect Central Asia Policy during the visit of the then Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, to Kyrgyzstan on 10-13 June 2012 with the first India-Central Asia Track-II Dialogue held in Bishkek. India established ‘e-Network’ in Central Asia to promote tele-medicine and tele-education. The then Indian External Affairs Minister visited Kyrgyzstan in September 2013 to participate in the SCO Summit. On the side-lines of the SCO Summit, the Indian Minister had bilateral meetings with the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Mongolian President Elbegdorg and SCO Secretary General Mazentsev.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kyrgyzstan in July 2015. That visit by an Indian Prime Minister took place after a gap of 20 years. Prime Minister Modi held meetings with then Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, Speaker Asylbek Jeenbekov and Prime Minister Temir Sariyev. During his visit Mr. Modi laid a wreath at Victory Square; gifted medical equipment to the Field Hospital; visited Kyrgyz-India Mountain Bio Medical Research Centre; inaugurated Tele-medicine links between hospitals in Kyrgyzstan with super specialty hospitals in India and unveiled Mahatma Gandhi’s statue. Four MoUs/Agreements in the field of Defence Cooperation, Culture, Election and Standardisation were signed. A joint statement by the Indian Prime Minister and Kyrgyz President was issued. The then President of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Almazbek Atambaev later paid a state visit to India in December, 2016.
India-Kyrgyz trade was at US$ 24.98 million in 2016-17. India’s exports to Kyrgyzstan was US$ 22.66 million; whereas Kyrgyz exports to India was US$2.32 million. Apparel and clothing, leather goods, drugs & pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and tea are some of the important items in India’s export basket to Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz exports to India consists of raw hides, metalifers ores & metal scrap etc.
Technical assistance under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, particularly in terms of human resources development, is the cornerstone of India’s economic involvement in Kyrgyzstan.
The visit of President Jeenbekov to New Delhi and Prime Minister Modi’s ensuing visit to Bishkek are sure to take the bilateral relations forward.
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