Chynybari Tursubekov is leader of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan and took up office as President of the Supreme Council of the Kyrgyz Republic just two months ago. The Kyrgyz unicameral parliament, the Supreme Council, comprises 120 directly elected members, of whom around 20 per cent are women. The President of the Supreme Council was accompanied by a six-person parliamentary delegation and the deputy foreign minister of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan enjoy very positive bilateral relations. A year ago, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Almazbek Atambaev, was in Bern on an official visit to Simonetta Sommaruga, the then President of the Swiss Confederation, and Didier Burkhalter, Federal Councillor. Kyrgyzstan is a priority country in Swiss development cooperation. The SDC and SECO are involved there primarily in the fields of health, reform of the public sector and infrastructure, and private-sector development.
During his visit, Chynybai Tursunbekov and his delegation held talks with Christa Markwalder, President of the National Council, and Raphaël Comte, President of the Council of States. The programme included meetings with Doris Leuthard, Vice President of the Federal Council and Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, State Secretary for Economic Affairs.
Talks focused on economic development and efforts to promote democracy in the Kyrgyz Republic. The Kyrgyz delegation underlined Switzerland’s exemplary role on these matters and expressed their thanks for the support that Switzerland is providing through development cooperation. The next major goal is to hold fair and transparent presidential elections in 2017. In addition, the country is striving to improve the climate for investment in Kyrgyzstan, and to promote energy production (especially hydro power) and tourism.