Kyrgyzstan and France to open cultural centers in Bishkek and Paris

‘Culture’ (AKIpress) — Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev approved the attached draft Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers and the Government of the French Republic on the establishment and operation of cultural centers.

As stated in the Cabinet of Ministers’ order dated April 3, 2026, No. 218-t, the document provides for the opening of the French Institute in Bishkek and the Kyrgyz Cultural Center in Paris.

The centers will promote the language, culture, and science of their countries, as well as facilitate cooperation between educational and scientific institutions of the two states.

Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the French Republic on the Establishment and Operation of Cultural Centers

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the French Republic, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,

in order to strengthen mutual friendship and cooperation between the two countries in the fields of culture, education, science, technology, and tourism,

taking into account the Treaty on Mutual Understanding, Friendship, and Cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and the French Republic and the Agreement on Cultural and Scientific-Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the French Republic, signed in Paris on June 3, 1994,

have agreed as follows:

Article 1.

1. The French Party, with the consent of the Kyrgyz Party, opens a cultural center in the city of Bishkek, called the French Institute in Kyrgyzstan, and the Kyrgyz Party, with the consent of the French Party, has the right, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, to open a cultural center in the city of Paris, called the Kyrgyz Cultural Center in Paris. These institutions are hereinafter jointly referred to as Cultural Centers.

2. For the purposes of this Agreement:

– the receiving Party means the state on whose territory the Cultural Center is established;

– the sending Party means the state that establishes the Cultural Center on the territory of another state.

Article 2.

1. The Cultural Center carries out its activities under the general guidance of the head of the diplomatic mission of the sending Party in the receiving Party’s state.

2. Each Party appoints the staff of its Cultural Center.

3. The head and deputy head of the Cultural Center may be members of the diplomatic staff of the sending Party and enjoy corresponding privileges and immunities.

4. The involvement of citizens of the receiving Party in the work of the Cultural Center is carried out in accordance with the legislation of the receiving Party.

5. Employees, administrative-technical staff of the Cultural Center, and their family members who are citizens of the sending Party stay in the receiving Party’s state to carry out the activities of the Cultural Center in accordance with the legislation of the receiving Party.

6. The Parties notify each other in advance through diplomatic channels about the appointment of the Cultural Center’s staff and the termination of their mission.

Article 3.

1. The Cultural Center on the territory of the receiving Party may acquire and exercise property and personal non-property rights and bear obligations necessary for its activities.

2. By mutual agreement of the Parties, branches of the Cultural Center may be opened in other cities of the receiving Party.

Article 4.

1. The Cultural Center performs the following tasks:

1) participates in the joint implementation of agreements in the field of culture, as well as other bilateral agreements between the Parties in the fields of education, science, culture, information, sports, and tourism;

2) brings to the attention of the general public information about the history, art, and culture, as well as the scientific, cultural, and economic potential of its state;

3) promotes the strengthening and development of cooperation between scientific, cultural, and educational institutions of the two states;

4) promotes the study of the French language in the Kyrgyz Republic and the Kyrgyz language in the French Republic;

5) contributes to the development of humanitarian, scientific, and cultural ties between cities and regions of the two states;

6) promotes the exchange of information in the fields of culture, education, humanities, academic education, professional training, tourism, science, and technology between the two states.

2. To achieve its goals, the Cultural Center establishes direct contacts with state bodies, local self-government bodies, organizations and institutions of various forms of ownership, as well as with private individuals in compliance with the legislation of the receiving Party.