Kyrgyzstan moves on from riots with confident Expo celebration
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Kyrgyzstan put on a united and confident face Wednesday to celebrate its national pavilion day at the Shanghai World Expo -- two months after the end of riots that left hundreds dead and toppled the government.
A performance of distinctive pastoral music and songs drew a sustained applause from visitors to the pavilion, which is styled on a yurt, a movable dwelling traditionally used by the country's nomadic people.
Kyrgyzstan Economic Development Minister Emil Umetaliev told the gathering that since mass riots, the new government, which took office last month, had been working on "a series of important matters, bearing responsibilities for the republic's future and its people."
"This will strengthen national stability and the public's confidence in the government," Umetaliev said.
More than 290 people died and about 2,000 were injured during the violence in June in southern Kyrgyzstan, which followed an earlier wave of riots that started in April with a revolt that ousted former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
The violence was focused around clashes between the ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbek residents in southern Kyrgyzstan.
The country held a referendum on June 27 and elected "legitimate authorities."
The Kyrgyzstan exhibition hall was temporarily closed early last month, due to a change of management team resulting from domestic political uncertainty, according to Kyrgyz media reports.
Umetaliev said that despite "the serious incident," the country's foreign trade value had increased by 9 percent in the first half.
Ten members of folk band "Ordo Sakhna" played the "komuz," a traditional stringed instrument, at Wednesday's festivities, while a huge screen overhead showed Kyrgyz herders in ethnic costumes.
Located in the Joint Asian Pavilion in Zone A of the Expo park, the exhibition has the theme "Bishkek -- the city open for the world," showcasing the culture, traditions and development of the nation's capital.
It depicts Bishkek as a highly industrialized but "liveable" city with large green area. Films, posters, slides and cultural activities show the country's culture, history and customs and Bishkek's "harmonious development" of economy, culture and tourism.
Cheng Guoping, China's Assistant Foreign Minister, describing this year as "unpeaceful" for Kyrgystan, said, "As a friendly neighbor, China sincerely hopes the Kyrgyz people can overcome difficulties and realize national stability, social harmony and economic development."
Temir Erkinov, former director of the Kyrgyzstan Pavilion, said in April that the violence would not affect the country's participation in the Expo.
The Shanghai Expo is the fifth world expo in which Kyrgyzstan has participated.
With a population of 5.29 million, Kyrgyzstan borders China in its southeast, and is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), along with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
As 94 percent of its terrain is more than 1,000 meters above sea level, the country's economy is based largely on agriculture, including livestock and the cultivation of cereals, potatoes, cotton, and sugar beets. Gold mining and industries such as food processing and machine manufacturing are also important.
The republic, which has a bicameral legislature, will mark its Independence Day on Aug. 31.
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