Kyrgyzstan, Iran to boost economic ties

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev's talks with visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani here Friday resulted in both countries agreeing on the need to boost economic ties.

President Almazbek Atambayev told reporters that cooperation between the two countries is set to reach new heights.

"An important result of the meeting was the decision to boost bilateral relations, primarily in the economic field," Atambayev said.

He also expressed confidence that the official visit of the Iranian president to Kyrgyzstan will open a new page in relations between the two countries.

During the talks the two leaders also discussed the development of trade, cultural and humanitarian ties as well as cooperation in engineering.

The sides also expressed interest in the joint construction of the "China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran" railway.

"We are convinced that in the interests of both countries and the region it will be an important and defining step that will have a cultural and political impact," Rouhani said.

Atambayev also said that Kyrgyzstan favors Iran's intentions to raise its status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

"We are confident that this will strengthen the overall capacity and role of the organization in the international arena," he said.

Rouhani arrived in Kyrgyzstan for a two-day official visit on Thursday at the invitation of Atambayev.

source: Xinhua