News / Politics

Iran determined to boost ties with Kyrgyzstan: First vice president

Friday, 31 January 2025 9:24 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 31 January 2025 9:24 AM ]

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref (R) meets with Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev in Kazakhstan on January 31, 2025.

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has expressed Iran's resolve to strengthen relations with Kyrgyzstan in different fields.

"Tehran-Bishkek relations have been growing over the past decades, and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran firmly believes in expanding ties with Kyrgyzstan," Aref said during a meeting with the central Asian country's Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev on Friday.

In the meeting that was held in Kazakhstan, Aref also hailed Iran’s extensive cooperation with Kyrgyzstan in the fields of economy, trade, and transportation, emphasizing the need for closer scientific and technological partnership.

In addition to implementing existing agreements, he added that the two countries should work towards activating their joint cooperation commission.

Aref further noted that membership of Iran and Kyrgyzstan in regional organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) provides a good opportunity for both countries to deepen their ties.

Meanwhile, he stressed that the Iran-Kyrgyzstan cultural and historical commonalities could lead to more consultations between the two sides on regional issues and reinforce their joint positions in international forums.

He also invited the Kyrkyz prime minister to participate in the Caspian Summit, which will be held in the Iranian capital of Tehran on February 18.

Kasymaliev, for his part, said that his country attaches great importance to friendly ties with Iran and that it stands ready to hold constructive talks with Tehran.

He further hoped that Iranian investment in Kyrgyzstan would increase.

He said Iran’s cooperation has been developing within the EAEU framework, adding that all the bloc's member states are keen on expanding their relations with Iran.

Iran expects boom in trade after gaining EAEU’s observer status

Minister says gaining EAEU’s observer status will enable Iran to further boost its position in the bloc.

Last month, Iran became an observer member of the EAEU, an economic union of five countries located in northern Eurasia (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia) with a combined GDP of nearly $5 trillion.

Aref travelled to Kazakhstan on Thursday to attend the EAEU Prime Ministers' Summit and the Almaty Digital Summit 2025.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk