Kyrgyzstan denies transfer of ownership of largest iron mines to China

Kyrgyzstan has denied its desire to transfer control of the country’s largest iron mine to China so that the Central Asian country will repay its debt to Beijing, which is strengthening its presence in the region.

Dierbek Orunbekov, the president’s media officer, said on Facebook on Thursday, March 11: “The conversion of the Jetim-to-China mine is false news. We will grow everything ourselves 100%. “

Kyrgyzstan’s population of about 6 million is not satisfied with the expansion of China’s neighbour in the politically unstable and impoverished country.

The announcement comes days before the first China-Central Asia Summit, during which Chinese President Xi Jinping received the leaders of the five Central Asian republics that were formerly part of the Soviet Union on 18 and 19 May in Xi’an, northern China.

China is Kyrgyzstan’s main creditor and owns more than 40% of its external debt exceeding $4 billion, and also finances major infrastructure projects under the New Silk Roads.