Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan lay down legal framework for biosecurity cooperation

Kazakhstan’s Aikimbayev National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections (NSCEDI) and Kyrgyzstan’s Republican Center for Control of Quarantine and Especially Dangerous Infections (RCCQEDI) signed a memorandum of mutual understanding and cooperation, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

Zauresh Zhumadilova, Director-General of NSCEDI, pointed out that the signing of the memorandum is a major step towards developing cooperation and enhancing communication between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Today, a legal framework for further cooperation has been created. There are multiple areas for cooperation, including a monitoring and exchange of information on the state of the sanitary and epidemiological situation in border areas of the countries, conducting scientific research and training specialists in biological security, holding different events, including conferences, seminars… Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have many points of contact, including cross-border hotspots, trade and economic cooperation, making the interaction between scientific centers working in biosecurity relevant and vital, said Zhumadilova.

On her part, Gulzat Kubanychbekova, director of RCCQEDI, hailed the signing of the document, as it lays down a foundation for further cooperation.

After the recent reorganization, the Republican Center for Control of Quarantine and Especially Dangerous Infections of the Health Ministry of Kyrgyzstan now focuses on enhancing its research capacity, improving coordination with international partners and expanding training programs. International cooperation remains a key area, as it promotes better practices and greater security of the region, she said.

Kubanychbekova added that Kyrgyzstan looks forward to effective exchange of experiences, technologies and advanced solutions in the field of biosecurity in cooperation with Kazakhstani counterparts, offering new prospects for developing joint measures aimed at preventing biological threats, enhancing scientific cooperation and establishing a new regional platform for data and resource sharing.

Under Kyrgyzstan’s presidency of the CSTO Biosecurity Coordination Council, it is planned to initiate projects to boost cooperation with Kazakhstan, including developing joint protocols to respond to biological threats and holding scientific events for specialists, said the speaker.