Kyrgyzstan recognizes China's full market economy status and President Askar Akayev handed over to Chinese President Hu Jintao in Tashkent Wednesday a written document to confirm its stance.

The two presidents met on the sideline of the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which is to begin in Tashkent Thursday.

Akayev said China has established complete market economic system after its 25 years of reforms and opening up to the outside world. The process accelerated after China joined the World Trade Organization.

Hu said the move by Kyrgyzstan will "greatly push forward China-Kyrgyzstan bilateral trade and economic cooperation."

The two presidents stressed that they will strengthen cooperation in the fighting against the so-called "three forces", namely terrorism, separatism and extremism.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2004)