China is to establish a friendship association to enhance ties
with central Asian countries, said Chen Haosu, president of the
Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
(CPAFFC), in Beijing on Monday.
Chen made the remarks in a reception held to mark the 15th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between
China and five central Asian countries, namely, Uzbekistan,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
Chen said the relations between China and the five central Asian
countries have been developing smoothly over the past 15 years and
remarkable achievements have been made in the cooperation in
energy, communications and other areas.
China is ready to further enhance the friendly and pragmatic
cooperation with the five countries, Chen said.
Uzbek Ambassador Nosirdjon Yusupov, Kazakh Ambassador Zhanybek
Salimovich Karibzhanov, Tajik Ambassador Rashid Olimov, Kyrgyz
Ambassador Kamil Suktanov, Turkmenian Ambassador Kurbanmuhamed
Gadjarovich Kasymov attended the reception and expressed their
willingness to further promote the relations between their
countries and China.
(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2007)
