On 22 August 2025, during the official visit of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the Kyrgyz Republic and summit talks with President Sadyr Japarov, a series of bilateral documents were signed aimed at further strengthening cooperation between the two countries across various domains, from economy and trade to culture and security.
This recent dialogue between the two Central Asian countries underscored their strategic partnership and commitment to staying in sync, aligning their positions to effectively and promptly address the challenges and grasp opportunities facing Central Asia.
Following the talks, the heads of state endorsed a Comprehensive Cooperation Plan between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2025–2027.
Other signed agreements include:
– Joint Statement of the Heads of State.
– Resolution of the Supreme Interstate Council on political, trade-economic, investment, water-energy, transit-transport, and cultural-humanitarian cooperation.
– Roadmap to increase bilateral trade turnover by 2030.
– Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan and the Akimat of Almaty Region of Kazakhstan for the construction of a wholesale distribution center in Almaty Region.
– Two MoUs between the State Tax Service of Kyrgyzstan and the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan: one addressing the movement of vehicles and goods, and the other launching a pilot project for using navigation seals to track shipments in mutual trade.
– Protocol amending the intergovernmental agreement on border checkpoints, signed on December 25, 2003.
– Agreement on training personnel for the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan.
– Agreement on the mutual provision of buildings and land plots in Astana and Bishkek for the embassies of both countries on a gratis basis.
– Agreement on information exchange in the field of pension provision between relevant ministries and funds.
– Action Plan to expand cultural cooperation for 2025–2027.
– Agreement on coordinating radio frequency assignments in the 29.7 MHz–3000 GHz band for terrestrial radio services.
– Action Plan for tourism cooperation for 2025–2026 between relevant ministries.
– Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Corporation of Kyrgyzstan and the Presidential Television and Radio Complex of Kazakhstan.
According to the latest data, bilateral trade turnover reached approximately $1.7 billion in 2024. The heads of state set an ambitious yet achievable goal of increasing trade to $3 billion by 2030, especially considering the additional agreements signed during the visit, which will streamline cargo flows and transit.
The construction of a wholesale distribution center in the Almaty region will enhance logistics, particularly in the agro-industrial sector, which accounts for 25% of trade between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Next year, an Industrial Trade and Logistics Complex is set to be launched on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border.
Several projects are aimed at improving transport connectivity. One such initiative is the proposed Almaty–Issyk-Kul highway, which was also discussed during the summit talks. Experts estimate that the new route could reduce the distance between Almaty and Issyk-Kul—from nearly 460 km to just 90 km. Over the next two years, the modernization of eight border checkpoints between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan is expected to be completed.
Significant contributions to the efficient processing of cross-border cargo will come from cooperation between the tax services of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, which signed two agreements during the seventh meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council.
Specifically, the countries agreed to launch an electronic digital queue system at the border in the near future, facilitating automotive cargo transport. The corresponding memorandum provides for the integration of information systems to exchange waybills and electronic invoices.
Another agreement formalizes the use of GPS-based cargo sealing. This will allow for real-time tracking of road shipments and monitoring their location until they reach their destination.
Moreover, Kazakhstan’s investments in Kyrgyzstan reached a record $113.5 million in 2024, according to the National Investment Agency under the President of Kyrgyzstan—highlighting growing interest in joint projects. Over the past 20 years, Kazakhstan has invested $1.4 billion into Kyrgyzstan’s economy.
The Bishkek summit and the signed agreements are not mere formalities but a strategic step toward economic integration, making borders virtually seamless. These agreements open new avenues for economic growth and, by extension, regional stability. ///nCa, 25 August 2025