(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-15 06:57

BISHKEK -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Tuesday that China will take steps to strengthen economic and anti-terror cooperation with Kyrgyzstan.

"China and Kyrgyzstan are neighbors sharing river and mountains, and close cooperation partners," Hu told his Kyrgyz counterpart Kurmanbek Bakiyev in talks upon his arrival at the Central Asian country's capital city.

Hu hailed the China-Kyrgyzstan relations, saying it has been featured with enhanced political mutual trust and positive progress in such fields as trade and economy, transportation, security and culture.

He appreciated Kyrgyzstan's persistent firm support to China on such issues as the Taiwan question.

China will, as always, support Kyrgyzstan in following its own path of development which fits its domestic situation and the country's strive for preserving national sovereignty, security and for national economic progress, he said.

"China sincerely hopes for stability, development and prosperity in Kyrgyzstan," he said.

Hu proposed that the two countries manage to improve the investment environment, better regulate trade orders and provide convenience for business operations between enterprises from the two countries.

On counter-terrorism cooperation, Hu slammed the rampant "three evil forces" -- terrorism, separatism and extremism -- in the region, urging the law enforcement organs of the two countries to strengthen cooperation within the bilateral framework and the framework of the SCO.

He also pledged to jointly promote political mutual trust, unity and coordination among SCO member countries, in order to reap more tangible achievements in such fields as politics, security, economy and humanities.

Speaking on the same occasion, Bakiyev praised China as a good partner of political and economic cooperation for his country, and that development of relations with China is a priority in the foreign policy of Kyrgyzstan.

"There exists no barrier to the development of relations between Kyrgyzstan and China. Kyrgyzstan wishes to join hands with China in well implementing the Kyrgyzstan-China treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation and the Kyrgyzstan-China 10-year cooperation program, and keep promoting bilateral relations to a new high," he said.

Trade and economy are priority fields in bilateral cooperation. Kyrgyzstan welcomes Chinese investment and will manage to create favorable investment conditions and environment for Chinese investors, he pledged.

Bakiyev hopes the two countries will strengthen cooperation in such fields as electric power generation, transportation, telecommunications, energy, natural resources, food and tourism.

Kyrgyzstan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China within the framework of the SCO, firmly crack down on the "three evil forces" and further tap potential for economic cooperation within the SCO, he said.

"Kyrgyzstan hopes to make joint efforts with other SCO members, including China, to make the upcoming SCO summit a great success," the president said, whose country will host a SCO summit on Thursday.

Hu arrived in Bishkek on Tuesday for a two-day and also the first state visit to Kyrgyzstan. He will attend the SCO summit as well.