Chinese residents in Kyrgyzstan hope Xi's visit can foster closer ties

Kyrgyzstan is among the first in the world to take part in China's Belt and Road Initiative. As President Xi Jinping's kicks off his tour in Kyrgyzstan, Chinese residents in the country hope the visit can further strengthen cooperation between Beijing and Bishkek.

For years, China has been Kyrgyzstan's largest trade partner -- with bilateral trade having exceeded 27.2 billion US dollars last year, which is a growth of around 20% year-on-year.

This economic boost has enticed many Chinese residents to seek business opportunities in the Central Asian nation.

Mr. Mou, a Chinese businessman based in Bishkek, hopes President Xi Jinping's latest visit can facilitate economic development between the two countries. He adds the bilateral relationship could be strengthened via the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summits to realise the goals of the Belt and Road Initiative.

While Mr. Wei, who opened a restaurant in Kyrgyzstan, looks forward to the president fostering more people-to-people ties, which can help to popularise Mandarin education in the country. He said daily communication remains a challenge, since the local Kyrgyz regularly switch between using the Russian and Kyrgyz languages.

This as a law firm assisting Chinese companies' investments in the Central Asian nation emphasised an explosion of Chinese interest in the Kyrgyz market, and expects a 50-percent growth in business this year.

Yang Zhenwei, a senior advisor of the Landing Law Firm in Central Asia, called President Xi's visit in Kyrgyzstan an important milestone that generates confidence for Chinese businesses to invest in the country.