Xi, Japarov Sign Landmark Treaty on China-Kyrgyzstan Ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a landmark Treaty on Permanent Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation during talks in Bishkek on Monday, placing bilateral relations on a long-term institutional footing and issuing a joint declaration on the high-quality development of their comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era. The signing came during Xi’s state visit to Kyrgyzstan, which coincided with the country’s 35th Independence Day and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2026, marking the bloc’s 25th anniversary.
The two leaders also signed a joint declaration on the high-quality development of the comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era and witnessed the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents covering investment, transportation, customs and sister-city relations. According to China Daily, the two sides signed more than 20 additional cooperation documents during the visit in areas including science and technology, education, culture, people-to-people exchanges and the media.
A Relationship at Its Highest Level
The visit marked Xi’s third trip to Kyrgyzstan, following his first state visit in September 2013, when the two countries established a strategic partnership. Over the past decade, the relationship has been progressively elevated from a strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and then to a comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era.
During the talks, Xi said that “high-level political mutual trust and firm mutual support are important guarantees for the steady and long-term development of China-Kyrgyzstan relations,” as reported by CGTN. He described the treaty as providing “an important legal foundation for friendship between the two countries from generation to generation and for their continued mutual support.”
Japarov, who welcomed Xi with the words “You are family. When you come to Kyrgyzstan, you are coming home,” said the visit marked “an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations.” According to gov.cn, Japarov emphasized that “China has always been a priority in Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy, as well as Kyrgyzstan’s closest friend and most reliable partner.”
Both leaders described the current state of bilateral relations as a “golden period,” with Japarov noting that ties “stand at their highest level in history.”
Deepening Economic Integration
The economic dimension of the partnership is substantial. China has long been Kyrgyzstan’s top trading partner and largest source of foreign direct investment. Bilateral trade in 2025 reached a record $27.2 billion, up 19.8% year-on-year, with trade hitting $11.7 billion from January through July 2026, according to CGTN analysis. Cumulative Chinese direct investment in Kyrgyzstan crossed the $2 billion mark by the end of July 2026.
A centerpiece of the economic agenda is the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project in Central Asia. The Kyrgyz section accounts for nearly 60% of the total railway length, with construction advancing “in full swing.” Xi described the railway as a “major transportation artery” carrying the development aspirations of people across the region, while Japarov called it a “steel Silk Road” for the new era.
The two leaders also discussed expanding cooperation in renewable energy, resource recycling, green minerals, digital trade and cross-border e-commerce, as well as modernizing border crossings and deepening “soft connectivity” in institutions, standards and rules.
SCO Summit and Regional Diplomacy
Xi’s visit coincided with the SCO Summit 2026 in Bishkek, held August 31-September 1, which brings together leaders from China, Russia, India and other member states. As founding members of the SCO, China and Kyrgyzstan pledged to advance the implementation of outcomes from last year’s Tianjin Summit and promote common development in the region.
Beyond the bilateral dimension, Japarov’s schedule reflected the broader diplomatic activity surrounding the summit. According to Anadolu Agency, he separately met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, among others. A total of 32 agreements were signed between China and Kyrgyzstan, including documents at the cabinet and ministerial level, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
Multilateral Engagement and Shared Vision
Kyrgyzstan’s growing multilateral engagement was also on display. The country was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2027-2028, and China expressed support for its term. Kyrgyzstan has also joined the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) headquartered in Shanghai and the International Organization for Mediation based in Hong Kong.
Xi called on the two countries to jointly implement the four global initiatives on development, security, civilization and governance, oppose hegemonism and power politics, and promote a more just and equitable global governance system. Japarov affirmed that these initiatives “help countries work together to address common challenges and build a more just and stable international order.”
During the talks, Japarov also expressed condolences over the mudslide disaster in Gyirong county in China’s Xizang autonomous region. Xi confirmed that China is making every effort to search for missing nationals, relocate affected residents and treat the injured, and has sent rescuers and emergency assistance to Nepal.
What to Watch For
The treaty signing institutionalizes a relationship that has grown rapidly in recent years, providing a legal framework for continued cooperation across economic, security and cultural domains. With the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway advancing and trade volumes at record levels, the practical dimensions of the partnership are expected to deepen further.
As Kyrgyzstan prepares to take up its UN Security Council seat in 2027 and the 3rd China-Central Asia Summit is planned for 2027 in China, the two countries are positioned to expand their coordination on regional and global issues. The SCO’s continued evolution, including progress on establishing a development bank, will be a key indicator of how effectively the bloc translates its growing membership into concrete outcomes.