China to enhance political mutual trust with Kyrgyzstan: premier

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

BISHKEK, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to continue to enhance political mutual trust with Kyrgyzstan, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, and seek more convergence points of common interests for mutual achievement and common development, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Wednesday.

China-Kyrgyzstan relations have maintained high-level development in recent years, said Li during his talks with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov.

During their meeting in May, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov drew a new blueprint for the development of China-Kyrgyzstan relations and defined new tasks for promoting bilateral cooperation, Li said.

China is willing to work with Kyrgyzstan to translate the important consensus reached by the two heads of state into concrete actions, push for new achievements in bilateral cooperation in various fields, and continuously improve the well-being of the two peoples, Li added.

The Chinese premier said both sides should well implement their medium- and long-term economic cooperation and trade exchange plan, and expand the trade scale and optimize their trade structure.

China and Kyrgyzstan should speed up the construction of key projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway as well as port cooperation to enhance interconnectivity, Li said.

The two countries should also expand cooperation in emerging industries such as advanced manufacturing, digital economy, new energy vehicles, smart agriculture, and clean energy to foster new growth drivers, he said.

The two sides should also deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges in areas including medical care, education, and tourism to promote connectivity between the two peoples, he added.

Li said that China stands ready to strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, implement the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit, promote the building of a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to inject more certainty and positive energy into regional stable development and contribute to world peace, security and development.

For his part, the Kyrgyz prime minister said this year has been a fruitful year for Kyrgyzstan-China relations.

President Japarov paid a successful state visit to China, during which the two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, bringing bilateral relations to a historic high, he said.

Kyrgyzstan firmly supports China on Taiwan, Xinjiang-related, Xizang-related, and Hong Kong-related issues which concern China's core interests, and is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen Belt and Road cooperation, enhance connectivity, advance the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, and further expand cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, tourism, education and culture, he added.

The prime minister also said Kyrgyzstan supports the Global Security Initiative and other major initiatives proposed by China and would like to work with China to combat the "three forces" and transnational organized crimes, deepen China-Central Asia cooperation, and jointly promote regional prosperity and stability.

After the talks, Li and Japarov witnessed the signing of a number of documents regarding bilateral cooperation in neighboring regions, and on the digital economy, sub-national friendship, and infrastructure.

They also jointly inaugurated the Chinese Cultural Center in Bishkek.

Also on Wednesday, Li laid a wreath at the Great Urkun memorial.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov jointly unveil the nameplate of the China Cultural Center in Bishkek after their meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Oct. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)