Bishkek, June 15 (TIWN) India and Kyrgyz Republic on Friday raised their bilateral relationship to level of a "strategic partnership" and signed a slew of agreements including on a bilateral investment treaty.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended the SCO summit here, later held bilateral talks with Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov - who had come to India to attend the swearing-in of Modi for his second term - and said that there was immense scope in their bilateral relationship.  "We have decided to take our bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership. This will help us for long-term cooperation in every field of our partnership," he said, adding that the two countries have decided to set up a joint working group to boost defence cooperation.  He also said that 2021 will be observed as friendship year between the two countries.