Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan keen to develop strategic partnership - prime ministers

ALMATY. Feb 1 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan is interested in further enhancing allied relations with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov said.

"The Kyrgyz side is interested in further deepening allied relations with Kazakhstan based on mutual trust and understanding," Japarov said at a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Alikhan Smailov on Thursday.

"The current relations between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan affirm the high level of political dialogue," Japarov said.

"The volume of mutual trade and investment is growing every year, and business, scientific and cultural ties are stepping up. Active cooperation between our countries is being maintained on multilateral platforms," Japarov said.

The intergovernmental council discusses common strategic goals, conceptual approaches and areas of long-term and sustainable development of Kyrgyz-Kazakh cooperation, he said.

For his part, Kazakh Prime Minister Smailov noted that Kyrgyzstan is a strategic partner of Kazakhstan.

"I deem it important to note the progressive development of trade and economic interaction between our countries. Only for 11 months of last year, bilateral trade rose 12% to reach $1.3 billion. The governments continue to work on the goal set earlier by the heads of state to bring trade to $2 billion," Smailov said.

Kazakhstan is ready to maintain strategic partnerships with Kyrgyzstan in all areas, he added.

The parties discussed the implementation of previously reached agreements and other topical issues of bilateral cooperation, in particular, in promoting trade and economic cooperation, as well as in the transport sector at the meeting, the Kyrgyz government's press service said.

Japarov is on a working visit to Almaty, where a regular session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council is taking place.