During his visit to Brussels on Thursday 12 April, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini examined the "good progress" in the ongoing negotiations that were launched in December 2017 with a view to a new EU-Kyrgyzstan partnership and cooperation agreement.
This agreement, which is intended to replace the current partnership and cooperation agreement that has been in force between the two parties since 1999, will expand cooperation to new areas (see EUROPE 11929). A new round of talks will take place in Brussels on 17-18 April.
Mogherini and Jeenbekov also discussed the political situation in Kyrgyzstan and central Asia, including the "significant improvement" in relations between the countries of the region and increased regional cooperation, according to a press release from the European External Action Service.
Mogherini had recently discussed these developments with the foreign ministers of the five central Asian countries on the sidelines of the Tashkent conference on Afghanistan.
Jeenbekov spoke of his priorities for Kyrgyzstan's socio-economic development and Mogherini reiterated the EU's commitment to supporting the continued consolidation of democracy, a professional and independent judiciary, and the rule of law, as well as sustainable economic growth in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Both leaders highlighted the importance of respect for democratic principles, and human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of the media and political pluralism.
Jeenbekov also met European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for other bilateral consultations. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)