Bishkek, July 7, 2026: President Asif Ali Zardari and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, with a particular focus on expanding trade, economic and investment cooperation between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.
President Zardari, who arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Monday for a four-day official visit from July 6 to 9, held delegation-level talks with President Zhaparov in Bishkek. According to a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the steady development of Kyrgyz-Pakistani relations and reaffirmed their resolve to deepen bilateral cooperation through the consistent implementation of agreements reached during President Zhaparov’s visit to Pakistan in December last year.
The two sides stressed the importance of maintaining an active political dialogue, expanding contacts at the highest and high levels, and strengthening institutional engagement between the parliaments, governments and foreign ministries of the two countries. They also expressed readiness to establish a strategic partnership, centred on trade, investment and broader economic collaboration.
To advance this agenda, the two leaders directed relevant ministries and agencies to intensify efforts for implementing existing agreements and taking practical measures to promote trade, investment activity and business linkages. They also underscored the need to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and improve the effectiveness of the Kyrgyz-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, as well as relevant joint working groups.
According to the joint statement, both sides pledged comprehensive support for stronger links between the business communities of the two countries, including chambers of commerce and industry, investment promotion agencies, and banking and financial institutions. They also encouraged the launch of joint projects and joint ventures.
The leaders identified energy as a major area of cooperation and highlighted the significance of the CASA-1000 project as a vital initiative linking Central and South Asia. They also discussed expanding collaboration in mining, agriculture, textiles, light industry, the halal sector, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical education, vaccine and biological product manufacturing, the digital economy, information and communication technologies, tourism, and banking and finance.
The statement said the two sides explored possibilities for joint ventures in pharmaceutical production and agreed on the need to facilitate market access through closer cooperation between their respective drug regulatory authorities. They also emphasised improving transport connectivity between Central and South Asia and reaffirmed the importance of practical implementation of agreements in transport, logistics and transit.
In this regard, the two countries expressed readiness to continue joint work on effectively utilising Pakistan’s seaports, while also discussing the use of Kyrgyzstan’s transit and logistics potential to improve access to Central Asian markets and the Eurasian Economic Union. Additional steps to increase cargo transportation were also reviewed.
The two leaders further expressed mutual interest in enhancing cooperation in education, science, culture, tourism, youth exchanges, and medical and public health cooperation. Talks also covered collaboration in quality assurance in medical education and professional regulatory coordination.
On the security front, President Zardari and President Zhaparov agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism, extremism, illicit drug trafficking, organised crime, irregular migration and cybercrime. They also condemned terrorist attacks in the region and beyond, and expressed readiness to work together on international platforms to address common challenges.
Both sides underscored the importance of continued coordination and mutual support within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Economic Cooperation Organisation and other regional and international organisations.
President Zardari also expressed support for Kyrgyzstan’s priorities during its chairmanship of the SCO and pledged close coordination during Pakistan’s upcoming chairmanship of the SCO and ECO. President Zhaparov, in turn, thanked Pakistan for supporting Kyrgyzstan’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term.
The Kyrgyz side also appreciated Pakistan’s contributions to international peace and security as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for 2025-2026, as well as its mediation role in the Middle East conflict and the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran. Both sides expressed hope that the Islamabad MoU would help lay the foundation for lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond.
The leaders agreed that a secure and conducive environment was essential to unlock the vast potential of cooperation and connectivity between Central and South Asia. Pakistan also extended support to Kyrgyzstan for hosting the Second Global Mountain Summit Bishkek+25 in 2027, while the Kyrgyz side invited Pakistan to participate in the VI World Nomad Games to be held in Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 7, an invitation Pakistan accepted.
The joint statement said both leaders hoped President Zardari’s visit would contribute to further strengthening Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and promoting the prosperity of the people of both countries. President Zardari thanked the Kyrgyz people for their warm hospitality and invited President Zhaparov to visit Pakistan, which he accepted. The dates of the visit will be finalised through diplomatic channels.
During delegation-level talks, President Zardari stressed the need for Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan to “find ways and means of progressing together”. In televised remarks, he said Pakistan highly valued its relationship with Kyrgyzstan, describing the two countries as bound by common faith, shared history and culture.
“The world is becoming smaller and modern technology has caught up, and of course the neighbourhood is the best place to be, so we have to work together and find ways and means of progressing together,” he said.
Recalling historical links through the Silk Route, President Zardari said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan could become even closer in the future. He also expressed Pakistan’s willingness to supply commodities to Kyrgyzstan at reasonable rates and to work together in various industrial sectors, research and other areas of mutual interest.
