The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, addressed the United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) summit in Baku on November 24, highlighting the unique geopolitical position of Central Asian countries and the vast opportunities it presents for transit routes, trade, and economic growth.
President Japarov expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani side for their hospitality and acknowledged their successful chairmanship of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia. He commended the quarter-century progress since the establishment of SPECA in 1998, emphasizing the growing strategic importance of the Central Asian region in the modern world.
The Kyrgyz president underscored the role of the SPECA Program in promoting sustainable development, integrating Central Asian countries into the world economy, and addressing key issues such as education, healthcare, and poverty reduction. He acknowledged the challenges posed by climate change and the complex geopolitical situation, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Japarov highlighted the internal potential of Central Asian countries in overcoming economic challenges, emphasizing the need for intensified economic cooperation through international trade, transit transportation, infrastructure development, digital technologies, and regional integration.
A focal point of President Japarov’s address was the strategic project of the "China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan" railroad. He emphasized its significance in breaking the transport deadlock, connecting billions of people, and expanding transportation routes from Asia to Europe, the Middle East, Iran, the Persian Gulf, and North Africa. Additionally, he outlined plans for cargo transportation along routes connecting Kyrgyzstan to Turkey, Europe, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and beyond.
President Japarov emphasized the importance of diversifying international transport corridors to enhance economic stability, and security, and reduce risks in the transportation of goods and passengers.
Addressing environmental concerns, President Japarov highlighted Kyrgyzstan's vulnerability to climate change, with glaciers in the Tien Shan region melting irreversibly. He discussed the country's efforts to address water shortages, develop renewable energy sources, and move towards a green economy. The president announced the launch of small hydroelectric power plants in Kyrgyzstan and a major energy project, the Kambarata HPP-1, in collaboration with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
“We have almost half of the region's water resources, and although our hydropower potential is estimated at 142.5 bn kilowatt-hours per year, we currently use only 13% of this potential,” President Japarov shared.
The president concluded his speech by drawing attention to Kyrgyzstan's initiatives for sustainable mountain development. The UN General Assembly resolution "Sustainable Mountain Development" in 2022, initiated by Kyrgyzstan and Italy, proclaimed 2023-2027 as the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions. President Japarov called for international support in preserving mountain ecosystems, addressing water resource challenges, and ensuring peace, stability, and development in the region.
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