China's top legislator Wu Bangguo pledged on Tuesday closer
cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to deepen parliamentary
ties with the two Central Asian nations.
During a meeting with Speaker of the Supreme Council of
Kyrgyzstan Marat Sultanov, Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee
of China's National People's Congress (NPC), said ties with
Kyrgyzstan are growing rapidly, with the settlement of the border
issue and the signing of a treaty on neighborly ties.
China appreciates Kyrgyzstan's support on the issues including
Taiwan, Tibet and the fight against "East Turkistan" terrorist
forces and will also support Kyrgyzstan's efforts to safeguard
national independence, sovereignty and stability, Wu said.
Wu expressed the NPC's readiness to work with the Kyrgyz
parliament to push forward the neighborly ties and friendly
cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan for the benefit of the two
peoples.
Sultanov, for his part, said Kyrgyzstan stands ready to develop
practical cooperation with China in such areas as transport, energy
and strengthen parliamentary exchanges between the two
countries.
When meeting with Speaker of the Upper House of the Tajik
Supreme Assembly Makhmad said Ubaidullayev, Wu said China attaches
great importance to developing ties with Tajikistan and hopes to
enhance high-level exchanges, deepen political trust between the
two countries and promote practical cooperation with Tajikistan in
economy, trade, security and transport.
The NPC is willing to expand parliamentary exchanges with the
Central Asian country, Wu said.
Ubaidullayev, for his part, said Tajikistan and China share the
same or similar positions on major international and regional
issues.
Boosting bilateral ties and strengthening the practical
cooperation in various areas serve the interests of both sides, he
said, adding Tajikistan is ready to enhance parliamentary exchanges
with China.
Earlier in the day, top legislators of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) gathered in the Russian capital for their first
meeting.
The SCO groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan.
(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2006)
