Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov proposed establishing a mutual visa-free regime between the countries of Central Asia and introducing a single regional visa system for foreigners. According to him, the holder of this visa will be able to travel without any restrictions in the territories of the five states.
Japarov announced this initiative after the long-standing border issues between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were resolved. He assessed the signing of the State Border Treaty as a major event not only for the two countries, but also for the entire region.
"Now eternal peace has been established in Central Asia," Japarov said in his statement.
The President of Kyrgyzstan also proposed to the leaders of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to cooperate in establishing a visa-free regime. In his opinion, this measure will stimulate regional economic development and tourism.
"A single regional visa should also be introduced for visitors from other countries. This visa should allow for free movement in all countries," Japarov stressed.
Regional visa system and its history
Most Central Asian countries already have a visa-free regime, allowing citizens to enter other countries without special permits. Only Turkmenistan is an exception to this rule.
The idea of introducing a single regional visa for foreign tourists was put forward in 2018. This initiative was presented by Darika Nazarbayeva, the daughter of the first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who called such a system "the Schengen visa of Asia."
In December 2018, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan announced plans to introduce a single visa called the "Silk Road" from 2019. However, this project was not implemented for various reasons.
Regional visa: economic and tourism impact
The introduction of a regional visa could make Central Asia an even more attractive tourist destination for foreign tourists. This would not only serve to develop the tourism industry, but also to strengthen economic cooperation between the countries of the region. This would be an important step, in particular, for promoting the historical Silk Road routes and developing tourism infrastructure.
According to experts, this initiative will also create new opportunities in the business sector. By introducing a visa-free regime and a single visa system, the countries of Central Asia will have the opportunity to strengthen regional integration and attract foreign investment.
The idea of a single Central Asian visa, put forward by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, is seen as an important initiative to increase the economic and tourism potential of the region. If successfully implemented, this project will make Central Asia a more convenient region for tourism and business, and open the way to a new stage of international cooperation.
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