Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev (R) holds talks with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L)

On July 8, 2007, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev met in Bishkek with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who is on an official visit to Kyrgyzstan and will also attend the regular foreign ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Atambayev expressed appreciation to China for its years of support and help in many fields. He said Kyrgyzstan is delighted with China's achievements in development, holding that there is broad prospect for cooperation between the two countries in many areas and to strengthen friendly cooperation is of great significance to Kyrgyzstan's development. The prime minister said he hoped the two countries would strengthen their cooperation in economy and trade, transportation and energy and promote the healthy development of non-governmental commerce. It is a realistic task of both countries to fight against the "three forces", he said, adding that his country is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in this regard.

The top Chinese diplomat spoke highly of bilateral ties, expressing appreciation of Kyrgyzstan's strong support on issues related to Taiwan, Tibet and combatting "East Turkistan" terrorism. He said as friendly neighbors, China and Kyrgyzstan enjoy political mutual trust and economic mutual benefits, adding that therefore, enhancing bilateral cooperation serves the fundamental interests of both countries and reflects the common aspirations of both peoples. Sticking to a friendly policy towards Kyrgyzstan, China would tap into the huge cooperation potentials and expand cooperation areas in a bid to push the good-neighborly, friendly cooperative relations between two countries to a new level, the Chinese minister said.

Yang appreciated the great efforts Kyrgyzstan has made on preparations for the upcoming SCO Bishkek summit, pledging that China would continue its coordination with Kyrgyzstan to make the summit a great success.

Yang also met with his Kyrgyz counterpart Ednan Karabayev on the same day. The two officials agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level visits and implement consensus reached by the two countries' leaders to push for long-term stable development of bilateral ties. They pledged to advance mutually beneficial cooperation on economy, trade, infrastructure construction, agriculture, energy and hydropower to consolidate the material foundation of bilateral ties. They also vowed to deepen the traditional friendship between the two peoples by keeping closer exchanges in culture, education and other humanistic areas and strengthen cooperation in the SCO so as to promote stability and development of its members and the region at large. They expressed hope that the two foreign ministries will, through their enhanced cooperation, make contributions to all-round development of bilateral ties.

Following the talks, the two attended a signing ceremony of cooperation documents between the two Foreign Ministries and jointly met with journalists from both China and abroad.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) and his Kyrgyz counterpart Ednan Karabayev (R) give an interview to the media after their talks

On the same day, Yang and Karabayev also attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Chinese embassy complex in Kyrgyzstan.

Yang arrived in Bishkek on the evening of July 7 for an official visit and to attend the regular foreign ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).