Kyrgyz-Tatar Education Agreements Signed

The ministers of education and science of Tatarstan, Albert Gilmutdinov (left), and Kyrgyzstan, Kanat Sadykov, sign an agreement in Kazan.

BISHKEK/KAZAN -- A Kyrgyz delegation led by Education Minister Kanat Sadykov and officials of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan have signed cooperation agreements in education and science in Kazan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Kyrgyz Education Ministry spokeswoman Ainura Kanimetova told RFE/RL the sides also discussed cooperation at the secondary-school level and in higher education.

There are currently about 100 Kyrgyz students studying at universities in Tatarstan. Additionally, a so-called "Multinational Sunday School" operating in Kazan's Vakhit district has a department that teaches in the Kyrgyz language.

Sadykov's delegation arrived in Kazan on February 6 and is due to return to Kyrgyzstan on February 10.

Kyrgyz and Tatars speak a similar Turkic language and share a cultural and religious affinity.

Read more in Kyrgyz here