President Mohammad Khatami officially welcomed his Kyrgyz counterpart Askar Akayev who arrived in Tehran on 21 Dec 2003 on a two-day visit to explore avenues for promoting political, economic and cultural relations.

In conclusion of the state visit, Iran and Kyrgyzstan signed seven documents for cooperation in economic, trade, cultural and artistic fields. Beside his Iranian counterpart, Akayev met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Head of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Majlis Speaker Mehdi Karroubi and Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi. Kyrgyz ministers of transportation and communication, of foreign affairs, of foreign trade and industry, of education and culture, and deputy finance minister accompanied President Akayev.

Khatami said he was not satisfied with the existing level of relations and volume of economic and trade exchanges between the two countries. He noted that the slow bureaucratic procedures between the two countries somehow obstructed expansion of bilateral relations. The president also remarked that agreements between the two countries on different issues would open up new chapters in the mutual relations.

On the future prospect of Tehran-Bishkek ties and the objective of his visit to Iran, Akayev said his country attached special importance to expanding ties with Iran and has been working toward this end in the past decade. He pointed to the historical ties between the two countries and promised that, as the president of Kyrgyzstan, he would do his best to consolidate the bases of friendship between the two countries. He said the Iranian president’s visit to his country last year (2002) was an important step towards speeding up mutual relations and expressed hope that the documents signed by the two countries would facilitate expansion of ties.

Pointing to the cultural and historical commonalities between Tehran and Bishkek as well as the friendly bilateral ties in recent years, he voiced Iran’s serious determination to expand mutual relations in all fields. He said development, progress and expansion of cooperation would be in the interest of both sides.

Khatami referred to documents signed by the two countries during his visit to Bishkek on avoiding double taxation and encouraging joint venture and stressed the need to prepare the grounds to implement the documents. Pointing to potentials and position of ECO member states, he said, "We should try to further materialize the goals of the organization in today’s economy through free trade."

Akayev, for his part, pointed to the potentials needed for expansion of cooperation and called for continuation of such cooperation at regional and international levels. He said implementation of accords between the two sides in various areas and within the framework of the Joint Economic Commission would lead to further promotion of commercial, scientific and cultural ties.

The Kyrgyz president said Tehran and Bishkek have set a target of $200 million worth of trade exchanges and voiced pleasure with the measures taken by the two commerce ministries in this regard. Economic development in the region would require establishment of stability and security and strengthening of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Akayev said, adding that political will could be effective in reinvigorating joint cooperation. He stressed that the problems facing the Iraqi nation should be settled through the United Nations and in accordance with international law.

Akayev also said his country maintained cordial ties with Iran. "The building of railroad between China and Kyrgyzstan and linking it to Iran, as well as speeding up of the construction of the ‘Silk Road’ are among Kyrgyzstan’s priorities, he stressed. "The opening of the Silk Road will lead to better cooperation between the regional nations," he added. He also invited Hashemi Rafsanjani to visit Kyrgyzstan, which he accepted.

During the meeting, Akayev assessed mutual ties between the two countries as very friendly and close and said the close stance of Iran and Kyrgyzstan on regional and international issues would help consolidate bilateral ties.

He stressed the importance of restoration of security and stability in Asia and the Caucasus and said this would be materialized through strengthening of regional cooperation aimed at technological, industrial and economic development of the region.

In reply, Akayev hailed Iran’s "positive" scientific, cultural and economic progress and expressed hope the two countries would be able to work out new fields in scientific and industrial areas as well as joint ventures through consultation and signing documents for bilateral cooperation.

Iran’s Commerce Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari and Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry Sadridin Djiyenbekov signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on trade, preferential tariffs and setting up trade centers. Shariatmadari and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov also signed a memorandum to lift visa requirement for holders of government passports.

Iran’s Minister of Justice Ismail Shoushtari and Aitmatov inked an agreement on legal contribution in civil and penal affairs. Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ahmad Masjedjamei and Kyrgyz Minister of Education, Science and Culture Ishenkul Boldzhurova inked a memorandum on cultural and artistic cooperation. Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ali Abdolalizadeh and head of the Kyrgyz State Commission also signed another memorandum of understanding.