The country known as "Kyrgyzstan"
After regaining its State independence, Kyrgyzstan set out on a qualitatively new road of its development, the road of political and socio- economic transformations. Such concepts as "democratization", "civil freedoms" and "supremacy of the law" have become firmly embedded in everyday practice. The principle of separation of powers and the system of "checks and balances" in the interrelations between them have clearly demonstrated their effectiveness.Favourable conditions have been created for encouraging initiatives and activity by citizens at the local level and for the comprehensive development of local self-government as the foundation for the life of the State. The idea of "Kyrgyzstan - our common home" has become the recognized basis for enhancing and strengthening inter-ethnic harmony and creating the conditions for a life in dignity for all citizens of the country. In Kyrgyzstan, which has absorbed in equal measure the spiritual heritage and rich traditions of the East and the West, representatives of many ethnic groups and religious faiths live together in peace and harmony. Kyrgyzstan has created the conditions for the establishment of an open society with a developed market economy, successfully solved the problem off macroeconomic stabilization and entered the stage of economic growth. A national information structure is being created in Kyrgyzstan with access to worldwide computer networks. Currently, the most important goals facing society as a whole are to intensify the positive trends in the economy and make them stable, to encourage and support national entrepreneurship, especially on the part of small and medium-sized businesses, to attract direct investment and to make extensive use of new technology. An attractive investment climate has been created in Kyrgyzstan, and a legislative base has been established which affords foreign investors the necessary guarantees and privileges. The stable political system and the open and democratic nature of Kyrgyzstan's economy create favorable conditions for the development of mutually advantageous international cooperation. Kyrgyzstan has entered the era of democracy and renewal.
Kyrgyzstan and the countries of the Great Silk Road region
'The conception of Kyrgyzstan's foreign policy with regard to bilateral cooperation excludes in principle the use of the prefix "anti-". This is the outcome of the entire course of Kyrgyzstan's historical development as an independent State and of the fact that our country pursues a peace-loving foreign policy and builds its relations with the out-side world on the basis of the universally accepted principles and norms of international law. Kyrgyzstan, as a consistent advocate of broad and multifaceted international cooperation for the joint solution of global international problems, takes up "anti-drug", "anti-extremism" and "anti-terrorism" positions. It is an implacable opponent of unlawful arms trading and distribution of arms and strives to achieve stability, progress and economic stability not only in the region, but throughout the world. Our country is deeply convinced that along the entire length of the modern- day Great Silk Road, no serious problems or contradictions of an antagonistic nature are to be found between the countries falling within its orbit. Among the participants in international relations, awareness is growing of the need to resolve chronic problems by peaceful means, at the negotiating table. In this connection, the example of Tajikistan, whose history is inseparable from the history of the Great Silk Road, is instructive. The political will and desire to seek compromise and mutually acceptable solutions that have been demonstrated by the leaders of the parties that were previously in conflict, combined with the mediating efforts and good will of neighbouring countries, including Kyrgyzstan, give grounds for hoping that the processes of peace and national reconciliation in that country are irreversible. Kyrgyzstan's initiative in relation to the conduct of a peace conference on Afghanistan has been widely acknowledged. The joint efforts and cooperation of all the countries falling within the orbit of the Great Silk Road can and must lead to the long-awaited peace in that long-suffering land and turn forever a somber page in the history of the region.The creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, cessation of the arms race and the conversion of military production, and the creation of conditions for the stable development of all countries of the Great Silk Road without exception afford grounds for assuming that at the beginning of the third millennium the region of the Road, which possesses vast potential and resources, will become one of the most flourishing and prosperous in the world, in that problems affecting the interests of all the countries will be resolved jointly and all obstacles to the free movement of goods, capital, services and manpower along the entire length of the Road will be removed. Kyrgyzstan is making purposeful efforts to develop cooperation with all the countries of the Great Silk Road region. In view of its geographical location, our country has a favorable opportunity of simultaneously developing fruitful relations in such directions as "Kyrgyzstan-neighbouring countries", "Kyrgyzstan-Europe" and "Kyrgyzstan-East and South-East Asia".
Kyrgyzstan-neighbouring countries
. Our country is working steadily to intensify various forms of cooperation with neighbouring countries and to expand political, trade and economic and cultural and humanitarian relations. The existence of common historical, political, economic and cultural and humanitarian links with countries which in the past formed a single whole necessitates the maintenance and development of relations through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Kyrgyzstan is attentively following the dynamics of and collectively participating in the multilateral integration processes in countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and making its contribution to the strengthening and intensification of regional and subregional Integration. Acknowledging the Important role of a favorable external environment for subsequent development. Kyrgyzstan is working consistently and fruitfully to strengthen security along the State borders with all neighbouring countries. Together with other countries of the region, it has signed a number of important agreements aimed at strengthening confidence-building measures in the military sphere and reducing the armed forces in the border region, and this has made It possible to settle almost completely the border disputes that still remain from the past. Kyrgyzstan is geographically and historically close to the Muslim States of the Great Silk Road region, which possess considerable investment, industrial and raw material potential.
Kyrgyzstan-Europe
. The significance of this direction for Kyrgyzstan is determined by the following main factors: the need for and benefits of cooperation with developed European countries; the desirability of further developing links with the Eastern European States; and participation in the European affairs of the states bordering on Kyrgyzstan. In developing its relations with European countries, Kyrgyzstan will, alongside efforts on the bilateral level, step up its activity in the field of multilateral diplomacy, taking advantage of the unique opportunity to participate in the work of the European institutions dealing with issues of security (including in the Central Asian region), economic cooperation and the development of democratic institutions.
Kyrgyzstan-South and South-East Asia
. Kyrgyzstan's cooperation with the countries of East and South-East Asia is conducted both on the bilateral level and through international organizations. Despite the financial and economic difficulties some Asian countries have recently been experiencing, their economic potential will play a growing role in the international arena. Taking into account the South-East Asia countries' great wealth of experience of activity, Kyrgyzstan will in future show great interest in participating actively in various regional forums of the Association of South- East Asian Nations, and also in the establishment of cooperation on a regional basis. States are prompted by their national interests, set in the context of geostrategic and geopolitical realities. In this connection, Kyrgyzstan can succeed in developing relations with all the countries of the Great Silk Road region, bearing in mind the following factors:
- (a) In terms of economic indicators, Kyrgyzstan falls into the category of "developing countries" as used in international practice. This enables it to be a full participant in the leading organs of multilateral diplomacy of the countries of the South and defend their international economic and political interests collectively; (b) Kyrgyzstan, as a country with a transition economy, is entitled to count on the cooperation of the developed countries and international financial and economic organizations in conducting its policy of reforms; (c) Kyrgyzstan also forms part of the group of landlocked countries. Located at the very center of East-West and North-south transport and communication routes, it feels a natural need to link up with modern communication systems and ensure reliable access to maritime transport, and is also aware of the objective need to become a transit country. It is therefore working actively to develop all forms of communications, in particular transport and information, in the interests of all the Great Silk Road countries.