Kyrgyz, Turkish FMs reaffirm willingness to reach $1 bln in bilateral trade

BISHKEK. Aug 18 (Interfax) - Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu have discussed the establishment of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Development Fund and reaffirmed their readiness to achieve the goal of reaching $1 billion in bilateral trade, the press service for the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"The ministers of the two countries discussed the creation of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Development Fund during the fifth meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Group, where meetings were held in a narrow and extended format," the statement said.

Kulubayev is in Turkey on an official visit.

The parties discussed the current state of Kyrgyz-Turkish relations and opportunities for their enhancement and expansion, as well as exchanged views on the regional and international agenda, the press service for the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said.

"The parties stood for enhancing cooperation and coordination in such areas as economy and trade, security and defense, education and healthcare, transport and energy, culture, tourism, and sports. The ministers also expressed their willingness to continue working closely to expand the capacity of international land, air and rail transportation," the ministry said.

Additionally, the parties agreed to hold the Days of Culture of Kyrgyzstan in Turkey in October 2022.

The parties also discussed the arrangements of the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's state visit to Kyrgyzstan as well as the sixth meeting of the Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation.

Following the meeting, Kulubayev invited Cavusoglu to pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, the press service added.