Chynybai Tursunbekov 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 about 20 per cent are women.
During his visit, Chynybai Tursunbekov and his delegation will hold talks with Christa Markwalder, President of the National Council, Raphaël Comte, President of the Council of States. The programme includes meetings with Doris Leuthard, Vice President of the Federal Council and Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, State Secretary for Economic Affairs. The President of the Supreme Council will be accompanied by a 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.
Bern, 6 June 2016 Parliamentary Services