■ Jaishankar calls on Kyrgyz president;
GoI will provide Kyrgyzstan preferential loan upto $200 mn

Bishkek/New Delhi, Oct 11 (FN Bureau) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov during which they discussed expanding the bilateral economic and development partnership and also exchanged assessments on Afghanistan. As he concluded his two-day visit, Jaishankar also paid homage at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Bishkek and interacted with Indian students. In a series of tweets, Jaishankar said: “Thank President Sadyr Japarov for receiving me so warmly. Conveyed greetings of PM @narendramodi. “Appreciate his strong commitment to advance our Strategic Partnership. Discussed expanding our economic and development partnership and people to people contacts.” “Also exchanged assessments on Afghanistan.” “Paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in Bishkek.

“Interacted with Indian students who joined me on the occasion.” “A satisfying visit to Kyrgyzstan. Leave with an abiding memory of our cultural connect,” he posted. The Kyrgyzstan Foreign Ministry in a statement on the visit, said that Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev, while greeting Jaishankar noted that “this kind of high-level visits contribute to the development of the Kyrgyz-Indian strategic relations”. This is the EAM’s first visit to Kyrgyzstan as Foreign Minister. “During talks, the parties discussed wide range of topics on agenda of the Kyrgyz-Indian cooperation and identified priority areas for effective interaction both in bilateral and multilateral formats. Particular emphasis was made on the interest of both sides in further developing active cooperation in the political, trade-economic, military-technical and cultural-humanitarian spheres.” The two sides inked a MoU on grant assistance from India “to implement quick-impact projects, which are of great importance to socio-economic development of the Kyrgyz Republic.” “Under this Memorandum, funds up to US $1.5 million will be allocated for the implementation of socially significant projects in the field of healthcare, agriculture and agro-industry, renewable energy sources, trade and other priority sectors of the Kyrgyz economy.

“Moreover, it was agreed that the Government of India will provide Kyrgyzstan with preferential loan in the amount of US $200 million. “Minister S.Jaishankar, in his own, noted that the current high level of relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of India is not burdened with any contradictions, and emphasised India’s desire to pursue its commitment to strengthening and developing Kyrgyz-Indian relations in all areas of mutual interest of the two countries, including mutual support in international organisations,” it said. “The parties also discussed issues of regional security and the situation in Afghanistan, the fight against extremism and terrorism, and also stressed the need for close interaction and exchange of information in order to counter regional threats and challenges,” it noted.