President Hu Jintao arrived in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday for a state visit and a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.

 

This is President Hu's first state visit to Kyrgyzstan. Chinese foreign ministry officials said he would hold talks with President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and meet other leaders of Kyrgyzstan to exchange views on major issues of common concern.

 

The two sides will also sign a series of cooperation agreements in such fields as politics, economy and trade, agriculture and education, the officials said.

 

Since China and Kyrgyzstan established diplomatic ties 15 years ago, bilateral relations have been developing smoothly, with Kyrgyzstan now China's second largest trade partner in central Asia.

 

In 2006, the China-Kyrgyzstan trade volume hit US$2.26 billion, up 128.6 percent on the previous year. The trade volume for the first half of this year has reached US$1.14 billion, up 73.5 percent on the same period of last year.

 

In addition to the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between, President Hu's visit coincides with the 5th anniversary of the signing of the China-Kyrgyzstan Friendly Treaty on Good-Neighborly Cooperation, and thus is of great significance, said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui at a press briefing last Thursday.

 

"I believe President Hu's state visit to Kyrgyzstan will enhance political mutual trust, promote practical cooperation, deepen security coordination and expand practical exchanges," he said.

 

Following his state visit, President Hu will attend the SCO summit slated for Thursday in Bishkek.

 

At the meeting, the leaders of the six member countries are expected to discuss achievements by the organization since the 2006 Shanghai summit, and outline future cooperation in security, economy and foreign affairs.

 

The leaders are expected to sign a long-term good-neighborly treaty of friendship and cooperation and other important documents at the end of the summit.

 

Founded in Shanghai in June 2001, the SCO groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It has Mongolia, Pakistan, Iran and India as observers.

 

Kyrgyzstan is the first leg of President Hu's three-nation trip. He will observe a joint anti-terrorism drill, dubbed "Peace Mission 2007," in Chelyabinsk in Russia's Ural Mountains region, with leaders of other SCO member states. He will then pay a state visit to Kazakhstan.

 

The exercises, staged by the six member countries of the SCO, was carried out first in China's Urumqi, and then in Chelyabinsk, from Aug. 9 to Aug. 17.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2007)