Kyrgyz president says ‘green economy’ promising area of cooperation with Germany

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov identified renewable energy and the “green economy” as promising areas of cooperation between his country and Germany.

“As promising areas of cooperation, we have identified issues of interaction in the field of renewable energy sources, ‘green economy,’ as well as labor resources,” Japarov said during a news conference with his visiting German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the capital Bishkek on Thursday, according to a statement by the Kyrgyz presidency.

He said that both Kyrgyzstan and Germany have a growing interest in mutually beneficial cooperation, adding that there is a large untapped potential in this regard.

“Germany is one of the important trade and economic partners for Kyrgyzstan in the European direction. In recent years, the trade turnover between our countries has increased almost 2.5 times. And in the future, special attention will be paid to the issues of increasing foreign trade turnover between our countries,” Japarov said.

He said that Bishkek attaches great value to interactions with the EU, adding that recent talks between Central Asia and the bloc showed the growing importance of the region, and that new formats and platforms for regional interaction are being created.

“Kyrgyzstan has always advocated open regional cooperation and continues to adhere to this principle. Obviously, the principles of open borders, good neighborliness and cooperation are the key to joint successful socio-economic development and security.”

For his part, Steinmeier said that Germany wants to have a closer partnership with countries of the Central Asian region, especially within the current tense period.

“Germany is ready to give all kinds of support to Kyrgyzstan and share its experiences in the field of renewable energy sources. Your country has very good conditions for this,” the German president said.

Steinmeier arrived in Bishkek late on Wednesday, following an official visit to Kazakhstan, and will end his visit to Kyrgyzstan on Friday.