Bishkek hosted the 14th meeting of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz Intergovernmental Council, co-chaired by Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet Chairman and Head of the Presidential Administration Adylbek Kasymaliev.

Bektenov described Kyrgyzstan as a friendly neighbor, brotherly nation and key trade and economic partner of Kazakhstan, The Caspian Post reports, citing the Kazakh government.

"Thanks to joint efforts and the direct support of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Zhaparov, allied relations between our countries have reached a new level," Bektenov said.

He stressed that both countries were committed to achieving the objectives set by their presidents.

"To boost trade further, we must develop cooperation in transport and transit, agriculture, and other economic sectors. For our part, we confirm our readiness to expand engagement across the full spectrum of bilateral relations," the Kazakh prime minister added.

In turn, Kasymaliev welcomed Kazakhstan's ongoing domestic reforms and highlighted the centuries-old historical, spiritual and fraternal ties between the two nations.

"In recent years, driven by the trusting relationship between our heads of state, bilateral cooperation has moved to a fundamentally new level. Last year's official visit by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reaffirmed the allied nature of relations between our two countries. I am confident that your official visit today will further strengthen bilateral cooperation," Kasymaliev said.

During meetings held in both restricted and expanded formats, the delegations discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in key areas, including trade, agriculture, water resource management, transport and transit, space technology, aviation, digitalization, as well as cultural and people-to-people ties.

Following the talks, the sides signed the final protocol of the 14th Kazakh-Kyrgyz Intergovernmental Council meeting.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the agreements aimed at strengthening relations between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and ensuring sustainable development across the wider region.