BRUSSELS: Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov held substantive discussions with European Council President Charles Michel during his working visit to Belgium, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
The meeting, held in both narrow and expanded formats, encompassed a wide spectrum of issues crucial to the mutual interests of Kyrgyzstan and the European Union. Key topics included trade and economic cooperation, investment opportunities, and joint ventures particularly in sectors such as energy, rare metals, agriculture, and more, according to a statement from the Kyrgyz president’s press service.
President Michel warmly welcomed President Japarov, recalling his visit to Kyrgyzstan the previous year and expressing his commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties rooted in democratic values, respect for human rights, and adherence to the rule of law.
“In this historic moment, Kyrgyzstan and the European Union are poised to elevate their cooperation to new heights with the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, ratified by all 27 EU member states,” the statement added.
President Japarov underscored the pressing global issue of climate change, emphasizing its impact on Kyrgyzstan’s glaciers, which are vital water sources. He informed President Michel about the establishment of a donor platform in Vienna, in collaboration with the World Bank, for the construction of the Kambarata-1 hydropower station, inviting EU participation under the framework of the “Global Gate” strategy.
Moreover, President Japarov emphasized the strategic importance of rare metals for Kyrgyzstan’s economy, noting the country’s significant reserves of metals essential to European industries such as europium, gadolinium, niobium, and lithium. He invited potential European investors and financial institutions to engage in projects related to rare metals extraction and processing.
Transport infrastructure was also discussed during the meeting, with President Japarov addressing the longstanding issue of Kyrgyzstan’s airlines being included in the EU Aviation Safety List since 2006. This listing has restricted Kyrgyz airlines from operating flights to EU countries due to non-compliance with safety standards.
President Japarov assured President Michel of Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to resolving this issue, highlighting recent advancements in airport infrastructure and regulatory reforms within the State Civil Aviation Agency. He affirmed that all necessary steps have been taken to meet EU aviation safety requirements, including close collaboration with European Commission bodies since 2023.
