Xi Jinping visits Kyrgyzstan, signs friendship and cooperation treaty

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a treaty on permanent good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.

Xi arrived in Bishkek on Sunday for a state visit to Kyrgyzstan and to attend the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, which brings together China, Russia, Central Asian states and other members to discuss regional security, economic cooperation and international affairs.

The visit comes as China and Kyrgyzstan seek to expand economic and political ties. In an article published by Kyrgyz state media, Xi said bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges have grown in recent years, while the two countries have made progress on major infrastructure projects. He also called for closer economic cooperation, stronger political ties and greater coordination within multilateral organizations.

One of the most anticipated projects is the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, a long-planned transport corridor intended to improve connections between China and Central Asia and provide an additional route to markets farther west.

Xi’s trip also highlights China’s growing engagement with Central Asia, where Beijing has expanded its role through trade, investment, infrastructure projects and regional organizations.