China is Kyrgyzstan's largest trading partner, leading foreign investor: Kyrgyz minister

Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov has underscored China's unrivaled position as the nation's largest trading partner and leading foreign investor.

Speaking in a recent interview with China Global Television Network ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2026 in Bishkek, Sydykov expressed gratitude for China's support for his country's large projects.

"China is the largest trading and economic partner of Kyrgyzstan. The share of trade with China in our total trade turnover exceeds 31 percent. At present, China continues to maintain the leading position in the foreign economic activity and external trade of Kyrgyzstan," he said.

"By virtue of our standing as close neighbors and by virtue of our historical ties, China also holds a leading position as a source of foreign investment inflows. It is through Chinese investment that large-scale -- and one might venture to say mega-scale -- national projects are being implemented," said the minister.

China-Kyrgyzstan trade reached 11.7 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months of this year. Besides, China's direct investment across all sectors in Kyrgyzstan exceeded 2 billion U.S. dollars at the end of July, with projects involving major infrastructure, energy, mining, agriculture and green development progressing smoothly, said Huang Ling, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce at a press conference on Thursday.

China's investment in other SCO members has continued to expand, with its direct investment across all sectors reaching 3.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. The investment covered areas including oil and gas, mineral resources, infrastructure, new energy, automobiles and chemicals, she said.

China has also invested in and built more than 30 economic and trade cooperation zones, helping SCO member states build capacity for industrial development, Huang said.

China is Kyrgyzstan's largest trading partner, leading foreign investor: Kyrgyz minister

Europe is staring down another winter energy crunch as gas reserves are on track to hit their lowest level in 13 years, fueling "winter panic" across energy markets, The Guardian reported on Saturday.

According to the UK newspaper, the European Union (EU)’s gas storage sat at just 63 percent in the final week of August, far below the seasonal average of roughly 80 percent recorded in recent years. At the current rate of consumption and refilling, the bloc is projected to enter the winter heating season with reserves at their lowest since 2013, experts were quoted as saying.

The report attributed the shortfall to multiple converging pressures. Ongoing military conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran has disrupted energy exports from the Gulf region, making it increasingly difficult for the EU to achieve its gas storage target of 80 percent full by the start of winter. At the same time, a bitterly cold end to last winter and scorching heatwaves across Europe this summer have driven up natural gas demand for electricity generation, accelerating the depletion of already dwindling stockpiles, it said.

'Winter panic' looms over Europe as gas reserves heads for 13-year low: UK newspaper