Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made comments on Kyrgyzstan's decision over the Manas airbase here Thursday,saying that China respects Kyrgyzstan's decision.

"We have noticed the news of Kyrgyz government's decision of closing the U.S. airbase in Manas," said Jiang, "Kyrgyzstan is a sovereign state. We respect its decision and are willing to see peace, stability and development in Central Asia."

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2009)