MoUs between India and Kyrgyzstan and Joint Statement: Overview

MoUs between India and Kyrgyzstan and Joint Statement: Overview

Question: Recently, on a visit to C.Asian nations, India’s PM and his Kyrgyzstani counterpart inked several important MoUs apart from issuing a joint statement on bilateral ties between the two nations. Provide an overview of these.

MoU/Agreement on Defence Cooperation

This MoU aims at deepening cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan in matters pertaining to the following subjects:

- Defence

- Security

- Military education and Training

- Conducting Joint Military Exercises

- Information and Experience Exchange

- Exchange of Military Instructors/Observers

MoU on Mutual Understanding and Cooperation in Elections

- This is for facilitating cooperation in matters pertaining to legislation on referendum and elections, modern technologies and systems, rights of elections process stakeholders and other issues of election administration

- This MoU will build technical assistance and capacity support for election commission in electoral management and administration leading to deepening of bilateral ties between Kyrgyzstan and India

MoU between Ministry of Economy of Kyrgyzstan and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on cooperation in the sphere of Standards.

- The MoU aims to strengthen and enhance technical cooperation as far as the following are concerned: standardisation, conformity assessment and expertise sharing on mutual trade through information and expertise sharing between the 2 nations

MoU/Agreement on Cooperation in Culture

For deepening cultural cooperation between the two nations in areas such as preservation of cultural heritage, folk arts organisation, youth festivals, cooperation in publication and translation of literature, sports and physical culture, exchange of archival material , geography, history etc, this MoU was inked

Joint Statement

PM Narendra Modi and President Almazbek Atambaev made the following declarations regarding cooperation between the two nations sharing common fundamental values:

Political cooperation

- Ties between the two countries span several centuries and India acknowledged the achievement of Kyrgyzstan in providing political freedom for citizens

- Contact at different levels was enhanced including regular high level visits and official exchanges to facilitate consultations on issues of bilateral, international and regional interest

- India also expressed satisfaction at the institutionalisation of parliamentary democracy in its C. Asian neighbour

- Both sides agreed to utilise courses conducted by agencies and welcomed the signing of MoU between Central Commission on Elections and Conducting Referendum and Election Commission of India

Cooperation at regional and global level

- The two nations stressed importance of deepening interaction between them and reaffirmed the need to strengthen UN’s role

- Kyrgyzstan expressed support for India’s chance at permanent membership in an expanded UNSC

- India reaffirmed support for candidacy of Kyrgyzstan for the UNHCR for 2016-2018

- The two sides also expressed satisfaction regarding the framework of the Conference on Interaction and CMB in Asia/CICA and SCO

- The 2 sides also expressed support for combating terrorism as well as religious extremism and engaging in counter terrorism activities

Defence Cooperation

- The two nations also voiced satisfaction for development of defence ties through high level of mutual trust and welcomed exchange of visits at the level of the Defence Minister

- Satisfaction was expressed at the successful conclusion of joint exercises Khanjar 2015 between the Special Forces of the Armed Forces

- The Indian side also expressed support for Kyrgyz Republic’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations

- Joint army expedition between two countries to scale Kangri in Ladakh and Lenin Peak in Kyrgyzstan was also appreciated

Economic cooperation

- Stress was laid on enhancing economic content of bilateral ties between the two countries and India expressed satisfaction at the joining of EEU by Kyrgyzstan

- Two sides also expressed hope for early conclusion of FTA between EEU and India

- Protocol of the VII session of the Bilateral Inter-governmental Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific-Technical Cooperation in New Delhi on 16-17 March 2015, as well as the MoUs on cooperation in the fields of Textiles and Energy were some of the important agreements which were reviewed.

- Joint Business Council between Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Kyrgyz Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI),held its meeting recently

- India and Kyrgyzstan welcomed the commencement of direct flights between Bishkek and Delhi and agreed to encourage greater connectivity in order to boost trade and tourism between the two nations.

- Specialised pharma exhibition with participation of 40 Indian companies in Bikshek and presence of Agrarian platform in Ahaar trade fair in India was also emphasised

- The two nations also discussed financing in accordance with National Development Strategy and Mid Term Management Strategy of State Debt as well as relevant Indian regulations

Scientific and Technical Cooperation

- Both countries placed their people at the heart of development and scientific advancement. ITEC slots were increased to 100 for Kyrgyzstan. Both sides expressed support for the India Kyrgyz Centre for IT named after N. Isanov(KSUTCA)

- Telemedicine links between the two countries was also emphasised and agreements were formed between specialised Indian hospitals and six Kyrgyz medical establishments

- India also thanked the C. Asian nation for celebrating 21st June as International Yoga Day while Kyrgyzstan welcomed India’s move to establish an AYUSH centre in this nation.

Cultural and humanitarian cooperation

- Two sides agreed to student exchange and scientific technical cooperation between researchers and students in Universities, research and analytical centres and private sector

- The signing of Agreement on Cultural Cooperation was also appreciated and joint study of common historical and cultural heritage was emphasised.

- The Sides welcomed the signing of Agreement on Cultural Cooperation during the visit and stressed the need to enhance cooperation between the peoples of the two countries in different forms of art, music, dance, theatre, cinema and other cultural manifestations. A liberal visa regime for the categories of citizens to promote business and tourism between the two countries was stressed on.

Facts and Stats

- More than 60% of the population in both India and Kyrgyzstan works in the agriculture sector and has engaged in meaningful collaboration in agro processing, greenhouse technology and agriculture sector

- Students from Kyrgyzstan study in India as well and over 1000 working professionals from a cross section of the Kyrgyz society have utilised the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.

- MP Modi also inaugurated the first telemedicine link between India and Central Asia during his visit to the Kyrgyz Republic.