First lady Emine Erdoğan attended a program hosted by Aygül Caparova, wife of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, for the spouses of leaders in Bishkek on Tuesday.
Emine Erdoğan accompanied President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Kyrgyz capital, where he is attending the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Council meeting.
During the program, the leaders' spouses toured the residence's park and watched a concert by Kyrgyz children and young people dressed in traditional clothing inside a Kyrgyz yurt. The performers played traditional instruments, including the komuz.
They later posed for a family photograph and visited an ethnic exhibition showcasing Kyrgyz handicrafts, including feltwork, carpets and rugs, handmade products, fabrics and traditional clothing.
The leaders' spouses also viewed eagles and taygans, traditional Kyrgyz hunting dogs that hold an important place in the country's cultural heritage.
Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy Mirbek Mambetaliyev accompanied the group and provided information about the exhibits.
The group later moved to the Enesai Reception House, where Kyrgyz children welcomed the leaders' spouses with flowers.
They watched a concert and folk dances performed by children's groups under the auspices of Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Culture, Information and Youth Policy.
The program featured the Turkish song "Gülüm Benim" ("My Rose"), as well as musical works from the countries of the other leaders' spouses.
Images from Emine Erdoğan's previous engagements in Kyrgyzstan were also displayed on a screen during the concert.
In a social media post following the program, Emine Erdoğan said the visit provided an opportunity to discover unique examples of Kyrgyz handicrafts reflecting the country's aesthetic traditions and craftsmanship.
She also highlighted the children's performances, saying the melodies performed by the young participants added "a special beauty to the day."
The program was held at the Ala Archa State Residence and brought together the spouses of several regional leaders, including Mehriban Aliyeva, wife of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev; Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping; and Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, wife of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
