Today, April 24, the international conference “Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development: Towards the Bishkek+25 Summit” started in Bishkek. Representatives of dozens of countries, international organizations and environmental initiatives arrived in the Kyrgyz capital to discuss the future of mountain regions against the backdrop of climate change and ecosystem degradation.

Opening the conference, President Sadyr Zhaparov said that Bishkek is once again becoming a consolidation point for countries and international organizations united by common aspirations and hopes. He reminded that it was here, at the foot of Ala-Too, that the global dialog on the mountain agenda was born more than 20 years ago.

Against the background of melting glaciers, loss of biodiversity and growing climate risks, the Head of State proposed a number of initiatives:

• create a mountain country development fund for sustainable financing of projects,
• swap foreign debt for environmental initiatives,
• expand international research on climate and mountains,
• establish a UN-Mountains coordination mechanism under the auspices of the United Nations,
• and establish an international platform on “Mountain Youth, Women and Climate”.

Kyrgyzstan also reported on concrete actions within the framework of the Five-Year Plan for Sustainable Mountain Development: in two years, the country has built 14 small hydropower plants, planted up to 8 million trees a year, built roads to mountainous areas, and implemented a telemedicine project that received international funding.

Zhaparov emphasized that the Bishkek+25 Summit, which will be held in 2027, should be not just the result of five years of work, but the start of a new stage of global cooperation.

“Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country. Our voice sounds in the interests of all,” said the President, calling on the international community to support the Global Mountain Dialogue.