Kuala Lumpur: The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Zhaparov, has returned home after completing a two-day official visit to Malaysia. The special aircraft carrying Zhaparov and his delegation departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 6.18 pm, with Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and his deputy, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, present to bid farewell. A ceremonial guard of honour was provided by the First Battalion Royal Malay Regiment during the departure ceremony held at KLIA’s Bunga Raya Complex.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this visit marked Zhaparov’s first trip to Malaysia since taking office in January 2021 and reciprocated the official visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the Kyrgyz Republic in May 2024. During his stay, Zhaparov engaged in discussions with Anwar on strengthening collaboration in fields such as trade and investment, renewable and green energy, the halal industry, agricommodity, tourism, education, and capacity-building through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP).
The visit also saw the signing and exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding in areas including tourism, digital transformation and cybersecurity, higher education, health, trade promotion, economic cooperation, and scientific and research collaboration. Additionally, they exchanged notes on youth and training for diplomats and a Letter of Intent on legal cooperation. Both leaders agreed to collaborate in developing Islamic banking and boosting halal product trade, with Malaysia offering its expertise to aid the Kyrgyz Republic in developing relevant facilities and services.
Zhaparov also visited the Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, where he engaged in discussions with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul and Dewan Negara President Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, followed by a visit to the Petronas Twin Towers. In 2024, the Kyrgyz Republic ranked as Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner among Central Asian countries, with bilateral trade valued at RM40 million (USD8.74 million). Malaysia primarily exported electrical and electronic products, palm oil, and machinery, while importing chemicals, electronic products, and processed food from the Kyrgyz Republic.
Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Kyrgyz Republic were established on May 21, 1992, following Kyrgyzstan’s independence post the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991.