China, Kyrgyzstan agree to boost cooperation on security (2)

BISHKEK, Sept. 11 -- China and Kyrgyzstan vowed here on Wednesday to boost cooperation on security and jointly fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism.

The "three evil forces" remain the major threat to security in the two countries and the whole region, the two countries said in a joint declaration issued after talks between visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambaev.

In the declaration, they strongly condemned and opposed all forms of terrorism, extremism and separatism, and agreed to expand and strengthen coordination and cooperation to jointly combat transnational crimes including illegal arms and drugs trafficking.

As members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), both countries agreed that the organization has contributed positively to safeguarding regional security and stability and promoting common development among member states.

The two sides will deepen practical cooperation within the SCO, and promote the establishment of a SCO development bank and food safety mechanism.

China and Kyrgyzstan, said the declaration, will have close coordination within the framework of the SCO.

The Chinese side believes Kyrgyzstan, which currently holds the SCO's rotating presidency, has made a great contribution to promoting the SCO's development and successful preparations for the 13th meeting of the Council of Heads of the SCO Member States.

On the role of the United Nations, the two countries pointed out that the UN has played a key role in safeguarding world peace and promoting international cooperation.

They said international cooperation remains an important part of the strategic partnership between the two countries, adding that they would maintain cooperation within such multilateral frameworks as the United Nations to respond to regional and global challenges.

They also supported the UN institutional reforms to improve its work efficiency and the ability to cope with challenges and threats timely, said the declaration.

They agreed that peace and stability in Central Asia is in the interest of every country in the region, saying that they firmly oppose any external forces to interfere in the internal affairs of Central Asian countries.

On cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the two countries attach great importance to strengthening exchanges and cementing their time-honored friendship.

They expressed the willingness to deepen cooperation in culture, science, education, health, tourism, sports, intellectual property protection, innovation and cultural relics protection.

Beijing, the declaration said, will provide 1,500 scholarships to Kyrgyz students in the next five years, and Bishkek supports China to set up Confucius Institutes in Kyrgyzstan's Osh.

The Chinese president arrived here late Tuesday for a state visit to the Central Asian country, where he will also attend a SCO summit.

Kyrgyzstan is the last stop of his ongoing overseas trip, which has taken him to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. He also attended a Group of 20 summit on Sept. 5-6 in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.