Bilateral meeting with H.E. Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and with H.E. Bakyt Torobaev, Deputy Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister for Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry

Bishkek - FAO Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu and H.E. Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, met during the Director-General’s three-day visit in Kyrgyzstan, to discuss current collaboration and means to further strengthen relations between FAO and Kyrgyzstan. 

The President welcomed the Director-General on his historic visit to Kyrgyzstan that marks the first ever visit by the head of FAO to the country. He expressed his appreciation for the strengthened collaboration between FAO and Kyrgyzstan, noting in particular the co-organization of the Conference on Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development, which he noted was of particular importance not only for mountainous countries, but globally. The President further noted that FAO is a strategic partner for the country.

The Director-General thanked the President and expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome. He remarked that the visit was a valuable opportunity to witness the country's rich natural environment and strong commitment to sustainability. The Director-General referred to the Host Country agreement signed with Kyrgyzstan earlier in the day to formalize FAO’s official status in Kyrgyzstan and noted it was an important milestone in strengthening collaboration as it further facilitated FAO support in key areas such as sustainable agriculture, water resource management, food security, and rural development. The Director-General also praised the President’s commitment to raising global attention for the Mountain Agenda and on the importance of mountains for global food security, to which he reaffirmed FAO’s commitment in providing all the technical expertise and support needed, including through the Mountain Partnership Secretariat hosted by FAO.

During his visit, the Director-General also met with H.E.  Bakyt Torobaev, Deputy Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister for Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan. During the meeting, the Deputy Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers expressed his appreciation for the collaboration with FAO, particularly through the FAO office in Kyrgyzstan. The Director-General thanked the Deputy Chair for his important contribution in finalizing the Host Country Agreement.

In his meeting with H.E. Meder Mashiev, Minister of Environmental Protection, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Director-General discussed ongoing FAO-supported programs related to sustainable land management, agroecology, and food security. Both parties acknowledged progress made and agreed to work together to, among others, further expand technical assistance in mountainous regions vulnerable to climate risks.