BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Kyrgyzstan and
China have signed an implementation agreement for a 148.9 million
yuan ($22.1 million) project to modernize the country's irrigation
infrastructure.
This was reflected in a statement published by Kyrgyzstan's
Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry
following a meeting between Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of
Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and
Processing Industry Erlist Akunbekov and Chinese Ambassador to
Kyrgyzstan Liu Jiangping.
"The sides signed an implementation agreement for the project on
the supply of machinery and equipment for the Ministry of Water
Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz
Republic," the ministry said.
The project is being implemented under the March 26, 2015
agreement on bilateral technical and economic assistance between
China and Kyrgyzstan, the report noted.
According to the ministry, China will provide 370 units of
specialized equipment for the Water Resources Service. The
machinery will be used for the mechanized cleaning of irrigation
canals and will be distributed among seven regional and 40 district
water management departments across the country.
The ministry said the project is expected to improve irrigation
infrastructure, strengthen water supply for agricultural land and
support the modernization of Kyrgyzstan's water management
sector.
China has become one of Kyrgyzstan's largest development
partners, financing transport, energy, irrigation and public
infrastructure projects through grants and concessional assistance.
Water management has gained particular importance as Bishkek seeks
to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and
adapt irrigation systems to growing climate-related pressures.
