Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev met in Bishkek on
Sunday with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on ties
and cooperation between the two countries.
Yang, who was in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek for an official
visit over July 7-8, will also attend the regular foreign
ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
scheduled for July 9 in the city.
Atambayev expressed appreciation to China for its years of
support and help in many fields.
Upbeat about the prospects for bilateral cooperation, the prime
minister said he hoped the two countries would strengthen their
cooperation in economy and trade, transportation and energy and
promote the healthy development of non-governmental commerce.
The top Chinese diplomat said as friendly neighbors, China and
Kyrgyzstan enjoy political mutual trust and economic mutual
benefits, adding that therefore, enhancing bilateral cooperation
serves the fundamental interests of both countries and reflects the
common aspirations of both peoples.
Working with Kyrgyzstan, China would tap into the huge
cooperation potentials and expand cooperation areas in a bid to
push forward the friendly cooperative relations between two
countries, the Chinese minister said.
Yang also pledged that China would continue its coordination
with Kyrgyzstan, which currently holds the SCO presidency, on
preparations for the upcoming SCO summit.
The SCO summit, scheduled in mid-August in Bishkek, will attract
leaders of the six member states, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, for discussions on security,
trade, military, judicial and cultural cooperation.
Yang also met with his Kyrgyz counterpart Ednan Karabayev on the
same day. The two officials reached common ground on consolidating
bilateral ties and promoting cooperation in many aspects.
(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2007)
