BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 31. Iran and Kyrgyzstan have stressed the importance of using existing potential to develop and strengthen ties across various sectors.
According to the information portal of the Iranian President’s Office, the remarks were made during a meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on the sidelines of the summit of heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and SCO Plus member countries in Kyrgyzstan.
“During the meeting, the presidents of Iran and Kyrgyzstan exchanged views on the process of cooperation between Tehran and Bishkek and recent developments,” the report said.
The presidents of Iran and Kyrgyzstan discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties.
During the meeting, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian welcomed the Kyrgyz government’s stance condemning the military attacks on Iran, calling it a valuable sign of solidarity between the two countries.
“In recent years, trade between the two countries has increased by more than 30%. Despite this growth, trade between Iran and Kyrgyzstan remains below its potential, given the existing opportunities. Full implementation of the free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union and the removal of existing barriers will create conditions for a significant increase in trade and enable both sides to take greater advantage of their economic opportunities,” he noted.
The Iranian president focused on Kyrgyzstan’s proposal to build a joint oil refinery, stating that Iran had viewed the proposal favorably and agreed to it in principle. Under this plan, Iran would supply crude oil to the refinery, and the refined petroleum products would be distributed between the two countries, which presents a suitable opportunity to enhance economic and energy cooperation between the two nations.
Pezeshkian stated that one of the most important areas of
cooperation between Iran and Kyrgyzstan is freight transportation
and logistics. Iran could become the most suitable and optimal
route for transporting Kyrgyz products to the countries of the
Persian Gulf, the Indian subcontinent, and East Asia. The
establishment of a Kyrgyz logistics center in the Iranian port of
Bandar Abbas could play an effective role in developing transit and
trade cooperation between the two countries and create conditions
for Kyrgyzstan and the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union
to further utilize Iran’s access to international waters and its
freight transportation capabilities.
According to Pezeshkian, positive agreements were reached during
the recent visit of Iranian Minister of Agriculture Gholamreza
Nouri to Bishkek. Representatives of both countries must keep these
agreements in mind and begin implementing them as soon as
possible.
“Iran has experienced, qualified companies operating in various technical and engineering fields, and some of these companies are already active in Kyrgyzstan. These companies have encountered certain challenges in the banking sector. It is expected that, through cooperation with Kyrgyz government agencies, existing obstacles related to bank accounts will be resolved, which will facilitate the economic activities of Iranian companies,” he noted.
Pezeshkian stated that Iran’s military and defense cooperation with other countries has never been and will never be directed against countries in the region. Iran’s fundamental policy is implemented within the framework of strengthening regional security. Iran views regional security in a collective context and believes that the most effective and sustainable way to strengthen security is through the development of cooperation among countries in the region.
Iran and Kyrgyzstan are engaged in positive cooperation within regional and international organizations, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Economic Cooperation Organization, and consider it necessary to further strengthen this cooperation.
During the meeting, the Iranian president noted that tourism is
one of the key areas for developing economic relations between the
two countries. Iran has waived visa requirements for Kyrgyz
citizens for a period of three years and expects the Kyrgyz side to
take a similar step.
At the meeting, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov also stated that
Iran’s proposal to waive tourist visas between Iran and Kazakhstan
would be thoroughly considered.
“The agreement on cooperation signed between the two countries in 2025 can create the right conditions for developing and strengthening cooperation between Iran and Kazakhstan,” he noted.
The President of Kyrgyzstan welcomed the development of cooperation in the economic and energy sectors and highlighted the potential for Iranian companies to collaborate with Kyrgyzstan in the field of oil exploration.
