Premier Li hails close friendship on Kyrgyzstan trip

Premier Li Qiang highlighted on Tuesday the friendship between China and Kyrgyzstan, saying that the two countries are indeed good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers.

Li made the remarks in a brief meeting with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov after his arrival in the country's capital, Bishkek. During his four-day stay, the Chinese premier will attend the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO, member states, and pay an official visit to the Central Asian country.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries, China and Kyrgyzstan have supported and assisted each other, and their mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields has yielded fruitful results, Li said.

The two countries have also closely collaborated with each other on global affairs in an efficient way, he added.

Li said his visit to Kyrgyzstan, the first by a Chinese premier in seven years, is aimed at enhancing mutual trust, expanding cooperation, deepening friendship and promoting peace.

He expressed China's willingness to work together with Kyrgyzstan to "fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continuously deepen political and strategic mutual trust, create more new highlights and benchmarks for cooperation, and enrich the China-Kyrgyzstan friendship in the new era".

The premier also said that China looks forward to working with SCO member states to carry forward the 'Shanghai Spirit' and inject new vitality into regional peace, stability and development.

Japarov, who held a welcoming ceremony for Li at the airport, spoke highly of the positive momentum in the development of the Kyrgyzstan-China relationship.

He said his country is willing to work with China to strengthen exchanges in all areas, jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative, constantly bring the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership to new levels, and work together to promote stability and development in the Central Asian region.