Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan Holds Lecture at TUFS

February 13, 2018

On Friday the 15 ^th of December, the ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Japan, Mr. Chingiz Aidarbekov, visited TUFS. After meeting with TUFS President Hirotaka Tateishi, Mr. Aidarbekov held a lecture with the title '25 Years of Japan-Kyrgyzstan Diplomatic Relations.' During the lecture, the Ambassador explained how Kyrgyzstan is located in the center of Eurasia, and discussed the natural geographical features of Kyrgyzstan while showing pictures, as more than 90 percent of Kyrgyz territory is made up of mountains.

Following this, discussion focused on topics such as Kyrgyzstan's high-level diplomacy and the marketplace expansions of Japanese companies (such as investments into banks and the selling of agricultural machinery), the improvement of infrastructure made possible by Japanese techniques and experiences (such as the support and cooperation of various organizations such as JICA, which in particular contributed towards the implementation of an electronic voting system and road construction in the mountains), and the main exports of Kyrgyzstan. Ambassador Chingiz Aidarbekov covered all of the topics of politics, economics, history, and culture, discussing Kyrgyz-Japan relations while also showing the characteristics of Kyrgystan through specific examples such as cherry blossom tree planting at the sanatorium built by Japanese detainees after World War II (in Tamga, Issyk-Kul Province), the epic poem 'Epic of Manas,' which was registered in the Guinness Book of World Records, and the activities of storyteller and literary master, Chinghiz Aitmatov.

Ambassador Chingiz Aidarbekov gave a very good impression as he took to the stage wearing an ethnic hat and a smile, spoke clearly from start to finish, and answered questions from the participants politely. The ambassador's enthusiasm towards deepening the understanding of Kyrgyzstan in Japan, and hopes of furthering the development of friendly relations between the two countries, was conveyed to an understanding audience, which was at capacity with many attendees including TUFS students. TUFS hopes to become the bridge that connects Kyrgyzstan and Japan.