Kyrgyzstan

Author: Xu Xiaoyun (Editor)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Preface by the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to China Dear Chinese Friends: Kyrgyzstan has withstood historic challenges and overcome various temporary difficulties, now standing at a crucial stage of national development. The reforms initiated by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Askar Akayev, have been underway for 12 years. Through persistent and goal-oriented efforts, the country has achieved significant accomplishments and progress in forming a democratic society and establishing a market economy. Kyrgyzstan believes it is of great importance to develop and strengthen ties with foreign countries. In this regard, I would like to take special pride and great satisfaction in pointing out that the China-Kyrgyz relationship is a model of intercountry cooperation. The traditional friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Kyrgyzstan and China have a long history. Historians trace the relations between the two countries back to the 3rd century BC. At that time, the great scholar Sima Qian first mentioned the ethnic name "Kyrgyz" in his famous work, "Records of the Grand Historian." In the new era since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the People's Republic of China, bilateral cooperation has entered a new stage of high development. Based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect, all historical issues left for us have been thoroughly resolved. In this regard, the "Treaty of Neighboringly Friendly Cooperation" signed during the visit of President A. A. Akayev of the Kyrgyz Republic to China in June 2002, according to the mutual wishes of both sides, has put forward new requirements for cooperation between the two countries and has generally outlined the prospects for their joint development in the 21st century that has already begun. I believe that this book will provide Chinese readers with very sufficient and comprehensive information about Kyrgyzstan, enabling them to better understand and learn about the state system of Kyrgyzstan and the domestic and foreign policies it has been implementing. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to the scholars of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences for their unremitting efforts in publishing this book. With the best wishes.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kyrgyzstan to China Erlan Abderdyyev
Kyrgyzstan is our western neighbor, bordering the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country with numerous rivers and lakes, abundant natural resources, and hydropower as an important export resource. Kyrgyzstan shares a common border with China of over 1,100 kilometers. More than 2,000 years ago, the world-famous "Silk Road" closely linked the peoples of our two countries. In recent ten years or so, exchanges between the two countries have become even more frequent, and cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results.