Member of the Kyrgyz mission to the UN Arslanbek Umetaliev said his country had made progress with the poverty rate having fallen from 33 per cent to 3 per cent over the last decade.

"Major progress had been made in ensuring access to drinking water, education and women's political participation," Umetaliev said speaking at the 13th and 124th meeting of the Second Committee of the 66th General Assembly on Oct.17.

Regarding the future goals, he said the matter is more equalizing socio-economic development, preserving the environment and quelling ethnic tensions.

Kyrgyzstan supported people suffering under the structural reforms caused by globalization through social policy, increasing pensions and benefits, and providing payments to low-income citizens.

"While previously known for its high illiteracy rate, Kyrgyzstan was now dedicated to maintaining high literacy and further improving education," he said.

The employment of women was a kind of "economic barometer" measuring a region's economic development. "Women made up 47 per cent of Kyrgyzstan's agriculture market and their role in community development should be newly reflected in the Millennium Development Goals," he said.