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BISHKEK, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Experts of Kyrgyzstan held here Friday the first ever national forum on the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and Central Asian programs of the European Union.
The Belt and Road -- the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road -- runs through Asia, Europe and Africa, connecting the vibrant Asian economic circle at one end and developed Europe at the other. The concept was proposed by China in September 2013.
The discussion was initiated and conducted by the newly established Centre for Analytical and Expert Support to Projects and Programs of the Silk Road of Kyrgyzstan.
The center's head Muratbek Imanaliev said that the implementation of the program should be carried out through the strengthening and development of cooperation with all the neighbors and the interested international organizations.
Deputy Minister of Economy Almaz Sazbakov said the EEU and Silk Road Economic Belt initiative will not contradict, but complement each other.
"The Silk Road Economic Belt will bring investments for the EEU countries. In the long term, this may be the key to the growth of other sectors of the economy, including industry," the minister said.
Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies of Kyrgyzstan Azamat Dikambayev also confirmed that the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative could become an additional source of investments for Kyrgyzstan.
Commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan Sun He expressed China's hope for a speedy implementation of the agreements reached between the countries of the Silk Road and the EEU.
"Kyrgyzstan, being the member of the EEU, is an important country on the ancient Silk Road and irreplaceable participant of the Silk Road Economic Belt construction process," the diplomat said.
He also believes that the joint construction of the Economic Belt will give a new momentum for development of bilateral cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan. Enditem
