Xi Jinping Visits Kyrgyzstan for SCO Summit and State Talks

President Xi Jinping arrived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Sunday for a state visit and the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit. Welcomed by President Sadyr Japarov at Manas International Airport, Xi described the current state of bilateral cooperation as a "golden period" of rapid development. The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the SCO and the 35th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's independence.

During the visit, the two leaders are discussing a blueprint for a "China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future," with a focus on major infrastructure projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. Economic ties have expanded from small-scale border trade to high-quality development in renewable energy and healthcare. Bilateral trade reached a record $27.2 billion last year, with $11.7 billion recorded in the first seven months of 2026 alone. Current projects include a 100-MW solar station in the Chui region and a waste-to-energy plant in Bishkek.

Beyond bilateral talks, Xi is attending the SCO Summit to implement the organization's 2026-35 development strategy. He has pledged 2,000 free cataract surgeries across SCO countries, with Chinese medical teams already performing over 1,000 eye surgeries in Kyrgyzstan. Following the events in Bishkek, Xi is scheduled to make his first state visit to Egypt in 10 years to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.