Kyrgyzstan and China Agree on Draft Agreement to Manage Shared Border Checkpoints

Quick summary

Kyrgyzstan and China agreed on a draft agreement on managing border crossings. The document will be signed during Xi Jinping's visit to the SCO summit and is intended to simplify border crossing procedures and expand trade and economic cooperation.

Why it matters

Simplification of procedures at border crossings directly affects delivery time and costs for traders and the convenience of crossing the border for citizens of both countries. A new committee and working groups will enable faster resolution of emerging issues, which could improve trade flows and logistics in the region.

Key takeaways

• ›Kyrgyzstan and China agreed on August 14 on a draft cooperation agreement covering the management of border crossing points on their shared border.
• ›Negotiations involved customs and border service officials as well as relevant ministry representatives from both sides.
• ›The draft envisages a Kyrgyz-Chinese Committee for Managing Border Crossing Points and specialized working groups for individual crossings.
• ›Signing is scheduled during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Kyrgyzstan, on the sidelines of the SCO summit.