New Delhi, Feb. 6: India and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to enhance levels of cooperation in the tourism and culture sectors.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ednan Karabaev met Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni today, and both agreed on the need for promoting further cooperation in these two sectors.

Karabaev is believed to have told Soni that there is a necessity to promote tourist traffic from India to Kyrgyzstan. He said India can offer training to students from his country in tourism and hospitality sector and both the countries can sign document for strengthening bilateral cooperation in tourism sector.

On the culture side, Karabaev sought India’s cooperation in the field of libraries and in the setting up of a Centre of Hindi Studies in the premises of Diplomatic Academy in Kyrgyzstan.

Showing keen interest in the proposed Library Mission in India and in the work of restoration of cultural and historical monuments, he proposed that both countries may have a joint archaeological expedition either in India or Kyrgyzstan to promote bilateral cooperation in the field of archaeology.

He also said his country is keen to organize ‘Days of India in Kyrgyzstan’. He expressed hope that both the countries will sign a Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) soon.

Soni said both countries have potential to promote tourism further bilaterally. She said the exchange of writers, authors, academicians, travel writers, tour operators between the two countries would help to promote better understanding between the people of both countries.

She suggested that the people of Kyrgyzstan take advantage of beach tourism, wellness tourism and shopping festivals in India.

Soni said both governments could also exchange information on ways to increase tourist traffic. She said Kyrgyzstan can utilize India’s expertise in the library sector particularly in building book banks. (ANI)