Kyrgyz deputy PM: Cooperation should be a priority for regional states
By Aynur Jafarova
Cooperation should be a priority for the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia regions, Kyrgyzstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Zhoomart Otorbayev said at a meeting of the World Economic Forum (Davos Forum) in Baku on Monday.
Speaking about the development dynamics of the region, Otorbayev stressed that the volume of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the five countries of Central Asia is less than the GDP of Singapore.
Otorbayev cited the need to improve the indicators, saying that the South Caucasus and Central Asia regions should be dynamic and more ambitious.
He believes that there are great human resources, gold reserves and hydro resources in Kyrgyzstan.
Otorbayev noted that in 2012 Kyrgyzstan put into operation a highway with China, and turned into a transit country, saying China brings great opportunities to the region.
According to Otorbayev, today Kyrgyzstan is cooperating with China and it has relations with Russia and Belarus as well. Moreover, Kyrgyzstan has a visa-free regime with 70 countries. The country aims to enter big markets.
Chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Frederick Starr, in remarks at the forum, shared Otorbayev's views.
According to him, it is very important that regions raise the level of interaction with each other. However, he said, the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia should strengthen their cooperation without the influence of foreign actors, such as the U.S, China, Russia or the European Union.
Starr also noted that the above-mentioned regions include eight countries -- five in Central Asia and three in South Caucasus, however, Afghanistan should also be included there.
According to Starr, Afghanistan had long been a part of this region and maintained economic and cultural ties with the regional countries.