China is to establish a friendship association to enhance ties with central Asian countries, said Chen Haosu, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), in Beijing on Monday.

 

Chen made the remarks in a reception held to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and five central Asian countries, namely, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

 

Chen said the relations between China and the five central Asian countries have been developing smoothly over the past 15 years and remarkable achievements have been made in the cooperation in energy, communications and other areas.

 

China is ready to further enhance the friendly and pragmatic cooperation with the five countries, Chen said.

 

Uzbek Ambassador Nosirdjon Yusupov, Kazakh Ambassador Zhanybek Salimovich Karibzhanov, Tajik Ambassador Rashid Olimov, Kyrgyz Ambassador Kamil Suktanov, Turkmenian Ambassador Kurbanmuhamed Gadjarovich Kasymov attended the reception and expressed their willingness to further promote the relations between their countries and China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2007)