China, Kyrgyzstan lift ties to strategic partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambaev decided in Bishkek on Wednesday to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.

During a meeting with Atambaev, Xi said the upgrading of bilateral ties marks a new milestone of China-Kyrgyzstan relations, adding that the two countries should offer political support for each other, maintain close coordination on security, and conduct mutually-beneficial economic cooperation.

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

Kyrgyzstan is the last stop of his ongoing overseas trip, which had 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.