Ordinary citizens, former politicians, and prominent scholars in Kyrgyzstan have applauded Chinese President Xi Jinping's signed article published ahead of his state visit to the Central Asian country, in which he called for creating a new chapter of high-quality development in bilateral relations.
Xi's signed article, published on Friday by Kyrgyz media outlets, also comes ahead of his attendance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2026 in Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan.
In his article, titled "Jointly Opening Up New Prospects for High-Quality Development of China-Kyrgyzstan Relations," Xi hailed the historic leap forward in China-Kyrgyzstan ties and urged efforts from both sides to consolidate the long-standing friendship between the two countries.
Since establishing diplomatic ties more than 30 years ago, China and Kyrgyzstan have been supporting each other amid shifting global dynamics. The two sides have built a close partnership in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, China and Kyrgyzstan have elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era in the spirit of solidarity and mutual benefit, and are working together to build a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future featuring good-neighborliness, friendship and shared prosperity.
The sentiments in Xi's article were echoed by members of the Kyrgyz public, who said they welcome closer relations and people-to-people exchanges between the two neighboring countries.
"Because we are neighboring countries, we must also look at China and develop like China," said a resident of Bishkek.
"We now have a visa-free policy with China. It's very good that we can visit each other. I support friendship between our people," another resident said.
In the article, Xi also emphasized both the quality and depth of Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan over the years, highlighting growing collaboration in emerging fields such as the digital economy, clean energy, and artificial intelligence.
Former Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Alibek Dzhekshenkulov hailed this emphasis the Chinese leadership places on mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between China and its neighbors.
"This article shows how much emphasis China's leadership places today on peace, friendship, and strengthening trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian and security ties with its neighbors, first and foremost, with Kyrgyzstan," he said.
On Xi's call for China and Kyrgyzstan to stand firmly against hegemonism, unilateralism and bloc confrontation, Sheradil Baktygulov, director of the Institute for World Politics in Kyrgyzstan, said it shows China is the foremost champion of a fairer and more equitable international order, in which all countries can develop and prosper together.
"The Chinese leader clearly stated it's not [just] about the national interest of China or the national interest of Kyrgyzstan or the national interest of any particular country -- this is [about] the interest of global sustainable development," he said.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. What began in Shanghai in 2001 as a compact grouping of China and its neighbors has now grown into a 27-nation family, standing out as a model for a new type of international relations.
Kyrgyz citizens say they welcome Xi's call for closer China-Kyrgyzstan ties
