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)
