Tuesday in Bishkek, China and Kyrgyzstan signed a comprehensive joint statement on bilateral relations, anti-terrorism, military cooperation, trade promotion, and other major international issues of common concern.

The statement was inked on the occasion of Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to the central Asian country at the invitation of his counterpart Kurmanbek Bakiyev. While in Kyrgyzstan he will also attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), of which both countries are members.

Bilateral Relations

China and Kyrgyzstan have agreed that continuously strengthening and deepening bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of both peoples and is conducive to regional peace and stability, the statement said.

This is evidenced by the series of treaties and agreements signed between the two countries over the last five years, marking the advent of a new era in Sino-Kyrgyz ties, it said.

Both sides are committed to the guidelines and principles outlined, intent on implementing all accords between the two countries, and promoting a steady development of the neighborly, friendly and cooperative relations, it added.

Both parties expressed willingness towards a frequent exchange of visits at all levels, those of the highest-profile in particular, in a bid to strengthen inter-governmental ties and deepen a substantial cooperation in politics, economy and trade, security, science and technology, culture, education, and health, the statement said.

In the joint statement, China invites Bakiyev to visit China and Bakiyev has accepted the invitation. China and Kyrgyzstan also pledged their support for each other's policies and actions in safeguarding national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

Kyrgyzstan reiterated its steadfastness in upholding the "One China" policy and acknowledged the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China. It reaffirmed that Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory, and that any issues regarding this are internal affairs where no foreign forces have the right to interfere.

Kyrgyzstan is also opposed to Taiwan's attempt to join any international and regional organizations to which only sovereign states are entitled. It will neither establish nor engage in any form of exchanges at the official level with Taiwan, the statement added.

China highly appreciates Kyrgyzstan's stance, reiterating support for the central Asian nation on its efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as in maintaining stability and develop the national economy, the statement said.

They also re-asserted the historic significance of border demarcation between the two countries, pledging to rigorously observe all accords and documents on this issue and commit to maintaining a lasting peace and friendship for generations in the border region, the statement said.  

Anti-terrorism

Presidents Hu and Bakiyev both think that the fight against the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is an important element of the international anti-terror struggle.

Both leaders pledged to cooperate on battling all kinds of terrorism including the ETIM, and to protect peace and stability of the two nations and the region. China appreciates and firmly supports Kyrgyzstan's efforts to strike the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism, and extremism in Central Asia, Hu said.

The two presidents agreed to maintain the extradition treaty between the two countries signed in April 1998, and to cooperate more closely to fight different kinds of cross-border crimes, in order to deal with non-traditional security threats and challenges more effectively.

Trade Promotion

Promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation is of great importance to advancing relations between the two countries. Both sides agreed to strengthen the role of the China-Kyrgyzstan Economic and Trade Mixed Committee, optimize the structure of trade, promote economic-technological cooperation, and ameliorate the investment environment. Increased cooperation will be based on equality and mutual benefits in fields like transportation, telecommunication, agriculture, mining, energy, and infrastructure construction.

In view of the increasingly frequent exchange of personnel and goods between the two countries, China and Kyrgyzstan will take measures to strengthen the functions of Turgat port, in order to make it open to citizens and vehicles of third countries and also to boost its transiting capacity.

The two countries also agreed to step up cooperation and coordination in international and regional economic and financial organizations, such as the World Trade Organization.

On the basis of the two countries' laws, China and Kyrgyzstan will take steps to facilitate trade and investment activities of natural persons and corporations and take effective measures to protect security as well as legitimate rights and interests of the citizens. The two sides will also take necessary measures to fight illegal immigration and facilitate the normal exchange of personnel between the two countries.

The Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation between SCO Member States, to be signed at the summit, will exert a positive influence over the relations between the member states and the regional situation.

Both sides agreed that China and Kyrgyzstan would take the same or similar stance on a series of major international and regional issues. They noted that the two countries should further strengthen their cooperation in the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations.

The two sides stand for a peaceful settlement of international disputes, giving full display to the UN's leading role in maintaining world peace and security. They also held that the diversity of world civilizations and their developing modes should be respected.

Kyrgyzstan is the first leg of Hu's three-nation tour. He will observe a joint anti-terror drill in Russia along with other SCO leaders before he pays a visit to Kazakhstan.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2007)