On October 13, 2023, the latest summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) heads of state convened in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The Council of Heads of State of the CIS addressed matters related to economic cooperation, security, and cultural exchange. Daryo's correspondent interviewed experts to gauge the summit's potential global impact.
Kyrgyzstan
The historical significance of the CIS is substantial, having emerged during the dissolution of the USSR. This framework allowed the former Soviet Union states to peacefully transition into sovereign nations without conflict, as stated by Zhumagulov Bakyt, the Chairman of the Institute for Peace and Development of Central Asia and a political scientist.
"Currently, the CIS has a key agreement that allows this organization to exist and function - this is a trade agreement. It allows trade and communication with the EAEU countries," Bakyt noted. In his view, Russia aims to further develop the Commonwealth during this summit, although he observes a certain crisis within the CIS.
Bakyt underscores that Armenia is not actively engaging in this organization. Simultaneously, he points out that other allied partnerships are emerging within the CIS, specifically, Russia and Belarus. He believes there's an inclination to establish an International Organization for the Russian Language since Russia is highly interested in promoting the Russian language and culture among partner states.
Kazakhstan
Zamir Karazhanov, a political scientist in Kazakhstan, finds the CIS Summit intriguing for Kazakhstan due to its impact on three major aspects: the economy, regional security, and access to neighboring countries' transport infrastructure. The preceding year marked a historic high in the Republic's foreign trade volume, amounting to $134bn, with a substantial portion of trade occurring with Russia, China, Central Asian nations, and Azerbaijan.
Karazhanov points out the considerable growth in trade with Kazakhstan's closest neighbors, such as a 25% increase with Uzbekistan, 19% with Kyrgyzstan, and nearly 72% with Turkmenistan. He emphasizes that the growth in trade with neighboring countries underscores enhanced cooperation, especially in an environment of growing geopolitical tensions.
"Last year there were a lot of projects with the participation of the Uzbek side in light industry, metalworking, and mechanical engineering. Thanks to such projects, we were able to very quickly increase the volume of foreign trade and thereby support the growth of the economy of Kazakhstan. Thus, the same Uzbekistan, out of 5 Central Asian countries, accounts for about 75% of foreign trade with Central Asian countries. This is quite a high figure," notes the politician.
Global security remains precarious, making it essential for states to maintain harmonious regional relationships. Karazhanov emphasizes the importance of taking steps to avert conflicts among CIS countries. He anticipates that the issue of Afghanistan will be raised within the CIS, highlighting the need to stabilize the situation in the country. Kazakhstan is actively contributing to these efforts, recognizing the potential for cooperation with Afghanistan and discussing ways to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe or severe economic crisis during the summit.
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