By Kanyshai Butun
ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a state visit to Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek on Nov. 25-27, the Central Asian nation announced on Monday.
"The visit will take place at the invitation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, and will be a significant event in the development of the strategic partnership and allied relations between the two countries,” according to an official statement by the presidency.
During the visit, the two presidents will discuss key issues of bilateral cooperation and interactions within the Eurasian Economic Union, Commonwealth of Independent States, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the statement said.
Kremlin presidential aide Yuri Ushakov also confirmed the visit, noting that the Russian delegation will be "highly representative."
Ushakov said Putin and Japarov will hold an informal one-on-one meeting.
The Kyrgyz presidential statement said the two leaders will pay particular attention to strengthening trade and economic ties, expanding investment and industrial cooperation, developing military-technical and cultural-humanitarian cooperation, as well as discussing regional security issues.
“The upcoming state visit of the President of the Russian Federation will be a significant step in further strengthening Kyrgyz-Russian relations, based on the principles of friendship, trust, and mutual support," the statement noted.
The signing of a joint statement by both presidents is expected, as well as a number of bilateral documents aimed at deepening cooperation in trade, economic, financial, and other areas, it also said.
Putin's visit to Kyrgyzstan coincides with the upcoming summit of the CSTO, comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, which will take place in Bishkek on Nov. 27.
According to the organization, the upcoming session is expected to adopt a declaration reflecting the consolidated positions of member states on current security issues, as well as consider the candidacy of the CSTO's new secretary general for the coming three years.