Muratbek Imanaliyev

(Former Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan)

Author

Muratbek Sansyzbayevich Imanaliyev was born in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek (then Frunze) in 1956. He has served as the Secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan. He graduated from the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University in 1978. He then received his associate PhD in history from the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Soviet Academy of Sciences in 1982. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Socialist Republic, serving in a number of positions before being named Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan. He served as Second Secretary, Head of the Consular Department, and Acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz SSR from 1982 to 1991. He was counselor at the Russian Embassy to China from 1992 to 1993, before serving as the Kyrgyz Ambassador to China from 1993 to 1996. He headed the International Department of the Administration of the President of Kyrgyzstan from 1996 to 1997, and between 1997 and 2002 served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan. He worked as professor and director of the Institute of Social Politics at the American University of Central Asia in the beginning of the 21st century. He served as president of the Public Policy Institute from 2005 to 2007. He then served as a presidential advisor in January 2009, serving in this capacity until October the same year. He has been honored with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kyrgyz Republic and Special Envoy of the USSR. Imanaliyev was appointed by the Council of Heads of State at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to serve as Secretary-general. He has made outstanding academic achievement and published more than a hundred articles in Russia, China, Turkey, India, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Abstract

First: Became Good Neighbors Again

In 1991, the two countries became close neighbors again. 1. Over the past two decades, Kyrgyzstan and China have done much to develop a bilateral relationship and achieved great and crucial progress in many fields and aspects. Representatives of two countries have contributed tremendous efforts. 1) Based on the principle of openness, mutual trust and good-neighbors and attributed to close contact between state leaders, both countries have set up comprehensive and continuously strengthening political cooperation mechanisms. 2) We have established concrete legal framework of cooperation, according to which we signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 2002. 3) We have expanded cooperation in economics, finance, credit and loans as well as technology every year. Also, we have expanded cultural exchange between the two countries. The large-scale and diverse aid China has provided to newly founded Kyrgyzstan maintains a special position in the architecture of Kyrgyzstan-China relations. 2. In the 21st century, Kyrgyzstan-China relations have developed rapidly and creatively – not only due to new experience in a new era, but also thanks to a new joint road leading to friendliness, peace, development and strategic cooperation between peoples of both countries. Conceptually, the principles and direction for cooperation between the two countries are as follows:

– Good-neighborliness and peaceful coexistence; – Diverse and win-win cooperation and co-prosperity promotion; – Mutual respect for each other’s choices and noninterference in each other’s domestic affairs; – Respect and support for each other’s national independence and sovereignty; – Comprehensive promotion of stability and prosperity of countries along the Silk Road.

3. As we push the development of the two countries according to above concepts, China should consider the following elements and situations to guarantee its foreign policies in Central Asia work:

– The relationship between China and Russia and to what extent the two countries agree about Central Asia; – Regional elements including relations among Central Asian countries; – Other countries, the U.S. in particular, especially after it erected an air base at Manas International Airport; – Various terrorism, separatism and extremism active in these areas.

4. Kyrgyzstan makes policies related to China in accordance with a simple scheme: In addition to carrying out cooperation in above fields and according to the above principles, our country needs China’s support in terms of construction of an independent national state as well as social and economic development. The content as to how Kyrgyzstan makes policy has been written into Theory of the Silk Road released in 1998. 5. Today, China has two images in the minds of the Kyrgyz people. First, they have more “fears” about China that China would become a dominator and invader of the future. Second, they are deeply impressed by China’s achievements, which result in more Kyrgyz people becoming interested in China’s history, culture, traditional medicine, sports and language. These contradictory “impressions” have long coexisted. Obviously, the first impression results from the shortage of objective information about China in Russian and Kyrgyz languages and a lack of communication or cultural activities for publicity and explanation. Over the years since Kyrgyzstan’s independence, the Sino-Kyrgyz relationship has improved, so much so that two countries have been able to discuss positive and even radical changes in bilateral ties. 6. China has never put forward any strict suggestions on Kyrgyzstan’s

human rights, issues concerning investment and legal environments, nor condition of China’s companies in Kyrgyzstan. This is important to both the Kyrgyzstan government and its people. Business organizations in Kyrgyzstan show great interest in cooperation with

China, which is encouraged by many advantages, for example, close geographic locations, similarities in regards to some behavior and culture, cooperation without Chinese partners’ preconditions, especially in legal and economic responsibilities.

Second: Good Neighbors Forever

7. At present, future predictions about the coming “Asian century” or “China’s century” are prevalent, but not all Chinese politicians, diplomats and scholars are in agreement. One point is clear – China has become one of the most decisive and positive factors in global politics and economic development. In the foreseeable future, China’s role will expand. 8. President Xi Jinping proposed a national concept of “Chinese Dream” to the people, aiming to revitalize the Chinese nation. Not surprisingly, the “Chinese Dream” immediately drew considerable attention from politicians, diplomats and scholars from many countries. As soon as he became Chinese President, Xi Jinping paid a formal visit to Kyrgyzstan. The essence and developmental potential of the “Chinese Dream” concept

received comprehensive political and public support in Kyrgyzstan. Chinese representatives explained the diplomatic policies of the “Chinese Dream”, especially the content related to Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation mechanisms and principles, and ten-year goals, what positive effects the “Chinese Dream” would bring to Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries. 9. While in Astana visiting Central Asia, President Xi Jinping proposed to construct and develop the “Silk Road Economic Belt”. He stressed that it would be built “on the basis of an innovative model of cooperation, to strengthen economic bonds between Eurasian countries”. According to the proposal, the new economic corridor will span the Pacific and Baltic regions, forming a large market covering more than 30 countries and serving more than three billion people across Asia and Europe. President Xi also emphasized that the construction of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” aims to use unified policy tools to build unified transportation and communication infrastructure, promote free trade, optimize circulation and personnel exchange, and gradually establish a large-scale regional cooperative system. Critics have argued that the idea of constructing the Silk Road Economic Belt will conflict with other integration and cooperative organizations, which Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries have already joined. However, any conflicts with these joint development programs could be avoided and even merged into the belt through serious, objective and professional review and coordination. 10. The activities of Shanghai Cooperation Organization verify the aforementioned facts. China and Russia are the leaders of this organization and other small countries like Kyrgyzstan are equal partners with these big countries. Equality is not just a form but an equality of partnerships. 11. It is evident that China’s diplomatic policies are the tools for the realization of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Though continually developing, China has maintained its stance on many foreign policy issues of international relations and diplomacy. For example, China refuses to engage in hegemonies, as is asserted in Declaration of Establishing Strategic Partnership signed by Kyrgyzstan and China. The guidelines of China’s diplomatic policy have added new content: mutual benefits and win-win results, which has become one of the four major principles along with peace, development and cooperation. China’s foreign policy places priority on neighboring diplomacy. Against this backdrop, as Chinese diplomats assert, China will take action in the four following aspects:

– Maintain traditional friendship; – Keep the promises to neighboring countries; – Benefit both China and its partners; – Guarantee development characterized by openness and tolerance.

“Do not judge other countries’ domestic affairs according to our country’s standards,” insist China’s top diplomats, drawing special attention from the international community. 12. Because China’s diplomatic policies tend to strengthen exchange and cooperation with Central Asian regions, as mentioned above, new development opportunities are arriving in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, it may be the time to brainstorm a new concept to cooperate with China. The concept should be based on eternal neighbors and mutual understanding with kind and open attitudes. During his visit to Central Asian countries, President Xi Jinping emphasized the following points when he explained China’s foreign policies in this region:

– China and countries in this region have a long history of relations and share common history; – China respects the choices of the sovereign countries in the region and is ready to support the development mode each country chooses; – China has no intention to dominate the affairs of this region nor to exert influence on this region; – China believes that the great potential of industry, trade and finance in this region will promote and expand trade and economic cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, and that the results will also benefit surrounding countries.

To establish a new concept for cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China, such situations should be taken into consideration. We need to understand that the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt is also closely related to expanding cooperation in fields of security and culture. In conclusion, I think it is urgent to ascertain some emphases of the new concept for cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China, for example, 1) We must coordinate the elimination of regression into past reporting and publicity which created prejudices in global outlooks of the public in both countries. This will help strengthen and expand cultural exchange between the countries and solidify mutual understanding as well as active communication between the people. 2) We must encourage Kyrgyzstan to carry out cooperation with China and prevent a financial and economic relation featuring “give and receive” – instead strengthen the relationship to the status of equal and complementary partners. 3) We must enhance cooperation in fields of regional and national security and further expand the scale of activity by Shanghai Cooperation Organization. At the same time, we should actively solve problems arising between the two countries with innovative methods.