His Excellency Mr. Almazbek Atambayev, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic paid a State Visit to India from 18-21 December 2016. The official programme included a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, meetings with President Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Shri M. Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi; a Banquet hosted by President Shri Pranab Mukherjee; and, participation in an India and Kyrgyz Republic Business Forum.
Prime Minister Modi and President Atambayev held a fruitful exchange of views in a warm and friendly environment and discussed the full range of issues covering friendly cooperation, bilateral relations, and the regional and international situation.
The leaders reviewed the status of the agreements reached by the two countries following the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Kyrgyzstan in 2015, expressed satisfaction with the achievements in bilateral relations and reaffirmed their readiness to further enhance multifaceted cooperation.
Guided by the common desire to improve the level of the Kyrgyz-Indian relations, the two sides reiterated that India and the Kyrgyz Republic are democratic countries and partners sharing common fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Bilateral relations
Political cooperation
The leaders noted that the peoples of the Republic of India and the Kyrgyz Republic have historic and cultural ties since time immemorial and expressed satisfaction at the upward trend in broadening these ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 25 years ago.
Reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation in all spheres of life on the basis of mutual respect, the two sides agreed to work in close cooperation for peace and prosperity of the peoples of the two countries. The Indian side applauded the successful and transparent conduct of parliamentary elections, with the use of biometric data in the Kyrgyz Republic in October 2015.
India and Kyrgyzstan underlined the value of Parliamentary exchanges. The Indian side offered to share their experience during special courses which will be arranged for the Members and staff of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Kyrgyz side appreciated this special gesture of the Indian side.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over the effective implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on electoral matters between the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums in the Kyrgyz Republic and the Election Commission of India, which was signed in July 2015.
The Kyrgyz side appreciated India’s role as a partner in development. Both sides took note of projects under implementation as also those in the pipeline in diverse fields including information technology, healthcare, telemedicine, agriculture, biomedical research, training and capacity building, education and culture.
In order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two leaders agreed to hold a series of events to commemorate this occasion.
Cooperation in the field of Defence
The two sides expressed satisfaction with the development of cooperation in the defence sphere, which reflects the high level of mutual trust between the two countries:
They noted that three IT-Centers have been established by India in the last two years at Kyrgyz Military Institutions, and an IT Centre is being upgraded at this time.
The "Khanjar” series of India-Kyrgyzstan military exercises has become an annual event. "Khanjar-II” exercises were held in March 2015 in Kyrgyzstan, "Khanjar III” in March-April 2016 in Gwalior, India. The "Khanjar-IV” exercises are scheduled to be held in Kyrgyzstan in February-March 2017.
The third Joint India-Kyrgyz Army Mountaineering Expedition was conducted in August-September 2016. A joint team comprising 19 officers and soldiers climbed JOGIN-III peak at a height of 6113 metres above sea level in the Central Himalayas in India. Earlier expeditions had scaled the peak of Stock Kangri in Ladakh (September 2011) and Lenin Peak in Kyrgyzstan (3-25 August 2013).
India and Kyrgyzstan are jointly constructing the Kyrgyz-Indian Mountain Training Centre in the city of Balykchi, in Issyk-Kul District of Kyrgyzstan. This Centre will provide instruction and training for personnel of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic as well as host Kyrgyz-Indian joint mountain training exercises.
The Kyrgyz side thanked the Indian side for support and assistance in equipping the Kyrgyz Military Field 2nd Level Hospital for UN Peacekeeping Missions and welcomed the offer of assistance in training.
Economic cooperation
The two sides noted that the current level of trade and investment relations between India and Kyrgyzstan is below the potential available and directed that Ministries and Departments of the two countries are to develop a comprehensive Road-Map in this area for a five-year timeframe. They agreed to explore new mechanisms to further strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
They noted with satisfaction that the Bilateral Investment Treaty had been initialed earlier in the morning on December 20, 2016.
The two sides noted the success of the 8th meeting of the Kyrgyz-Indian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation held in Bishkek on 27-28 November, 2016. The leaders directed the IGC to strengthen the implementation of bilateral agreements, including by holding regular meetings in the framework of various Joint Working Groups on sectoral issues.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in the field of agriculture envisaging inter alia, University to University cooperation; setting up of a demonstration unit for drip irrigation; and promoting exports of dry fruits, honey and walnuts from the Kyrgyz Republic to India. The Kyrgyz side welcomed the assistance of Indian side in establishing aromatic industry and consultancy in the field of organic farming.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over the increasing flow of tourists between the two countries, in particular after the opening of direct flights between New Delhi and Bishkek and resolved to work towards effective visa facilitation.
As part of discussions on the integration process in the Eurasian space, the Kyrgyz side highlighted opportunities available for Indian entrepreneurs as a result of their joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU). The two sides noted progress in the work of the Joint Study Group that has been considering the feasibility of a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Both sides noted that cargo movement on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) would be a significant step in the direction of solving logistics issues and would give a fillip to India-Kyrgyzstan trade relations. As Member States of the INSTC both sides agreed to work jointly to operationalize cargo movement on the INSTC. Both sides further agreed that the Chahbahar Port in Iran provides the shortest connectivity for Kyrgyzstan to warm waters and to India.
Scientific, technical, cultural cooperation, as well as contacts between the peoples
The Indian side highly appreciated the support extended by the Kyrgyz Republic to the Kyrgyz-India Mountain Bio-Medical Research Center. The two sides noted with satisfaction the successful completion of the Second Phase Laboratory at the Suek High Pass and the conduct of tests in November and December this year. They agreed to continue collaboration in research and development in this field and to expand the scope of research.
President Atambayev highly praised India’s contribution in setting up a Telemedicine Network in Kyrgyzstan and its expansion to the remaining regions of Kyrgyzstan. The two sides expressed satisfaction over growing links between private hospitals in the health sector, including regular visits by doctors from specialized hospitals in India to Kyrgyzstan.
Both sides noted that Kyrgyzstan remains a popular destination for Indian students who wish to pursue medical education.
The two sides highlighted that over 1,100 professionals working in the state structures of Kyrgyzstan had received training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. The Kyrgyz side welcomed the decision of the Government of India to continue to support experts from Kyrgyzstan within the ITEC framework.
The Indian side expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz side for the full support extended for the celebration of the second International Yoga Day. The Kyrgyz side appreciated that India has set up an AYUSH Center (Center of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) in the Kyrgyz Republic to offer consultation and instruction in the field of Traditional Indian medicine, and which also arranges yoga camps for instructors from all over Kyrgyzstan.
The two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the co-operation in the field of culture and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi congratulated President Atambayev over the successful conclusion of the Year of History and Culture, and the Second World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan. President Atambayev thanked Prime Minister Modi for India’s whole-hearted participation in the cultural life of Kyrgyzstan, including in the World Nomad Games.
The leaders noted with satisfaction the importance of notable cultural events held in both countries including staging of the play based on the epic "Mahabharat” in the Kyrgyz language at the Kyrgyz National Drama Theatre; the Festival of India in Kyrgyzstan; participation by the Indian artists in the handicrafts fair, "Oimo”; and the publication of the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi in the Kyrgyz language. The two sides welcomed initiatives aimed at strengthening theatre-to-theatre collaboration. During the visit, the first copy of heroic epic of the Kyrgyz people "Manas-Semetei-Seitek” in Hindi was presented to Prime Minister Modi by President Atambayev. The first copy of a collection of Indian poems in the Kyrgyz language, "Colours of Life” was presented to President Atambayev by Prime Minister Modi.
The two leaders instructed that work be undertaken on the liberalization of visa procedures, to create the most favourable conditions to enhance cooperation in diverse areas including science and technology, trade and economy as well as education and culture.
Cooperation at Regional and Global Levels
Noting the similar positions of both countries on many important international issues, the two sides stressed the importance of deepening cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan in the international arena, including in the framework of the United Nations and reaffirmed the need to strengthen the role of the UN.
Noting the contribution of India in maintaining peace in the world, the Kyrgyz side reiterated support for the rightful claim of India for Permanent Membership in an expanded UN Security Council. The Indian side thanked the Kyrgyz side for their consistent reiteration of this support.
The Kyrgyz side expressed gratitude to the Indian side for active support to the Kyrgyz Republic for election to the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2016-2018.
The Kyrgyz side welcomed imminent full membership of India in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The Indian side expressed appreciation to the Kyrgyz side for the completion of their national procedures on the acceptance of India as a member of the SCO.
The two leaders noted the challenges posed by terrorism and extremism in the world, as well as on the Asian continent, and emphasized the importance of ensuring a stable and secure environment for peaceful economic development. In this context, they also called for the adoption by the United Nations of the draft Comprehensive Convention on Combating International Terrorism.
The two leaders welcomed the ratification of the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC by a number of countries, including India, which contributed to its entry into force on 4 November 2016. Both leaders emphasised that the Agreement should continue to be guided by the principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), especially the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) and emphasised the need for the Annex II countries to fulfil their pre-2020 obligations. They underlined the importance of using renewable sources of energy for combating climate change.
Highlighting the importance of protecting vulnerable and fragile ecosystems and rare and disappearing species, the Kyrgyz side informed the Indian side that a Summit on Protection of Snow Leopards is to be held in September 2017 in Kyrgyzstan and invited Indian participation at the Summit.
Conclusion
Both Sides expressed satisfaction with the regular high-level contacts between the two countries that provide the much needed impetus to progressive enhancement and deepening across the entire spectrum of cooperation.
President Atambayev expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and reception accorded to the delegation during the State Visit. He invited Prime Minister Modi to pay a State Visit to the Kyrgyz Republic which Prime Minister Modi accepted with gratitude.
