Kyrgyzstan's deputy minister of agriculture, Zhanybek Kerimaliev, states that agriculture between China and Kyrgyzstan has been booming in recent years, and the main areas for cooperation are traditional cultivation and the trade of agriculture products.
"We export vegetables, leather and wool and import mainly meat products, such as chicken, pork, eggs," he said, adding that Kyrgyzstan's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) last year will not hinder its trade with China, his country's main partner.
"The Chinese side has been rendering a lot of aid to Kyrgyzstan," having helped Kyrgyzstan train professionals and promote technical innovation in agriculture, where Kyrgyzstan has longed for China's investment and assistance, Kerimaliev said.
"The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China is working closely with us and rendering assistance in the construction of greenhouses," one of the country's priorities in agricultural development, Kerimaliev said.
The official also said the two nations are discussing the establishment of logistics centers in Kyrgyzstan to promote the sale of its ecologically clean products.
"We want to export potatoes, and fruits like cherry, peach and dried fruits too," he said.
Agriculture is one of the most important spheres in the Kyrgyz national economy, contributing 14 percent of the nation's GDP last year and absorbing some 65 percent of its population. The government has included agricultural development in the National Strategy of Sustainable Development of Kyrgyzstan for 2013-2017.
Source: news.xinhuanet.com