China hopes the people of Kyrgyzstan will overcome the difficulties they face and realize peace, stability and development, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Tuesday.

As a friendly neighbor, China is highly concerned by the unrest in southern Kyrgyzstan, Qin said in a statement.

The primary task for Kyrgyzstan is to normalize social order and restore social stability, Qin said.

The death toll from the ethnic riots that began June 10 in southern Kyrgyzstan has risen to 170 while 1,762 have been injured, Kyrgyzstan's health ministry said Tuesday.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a regional security group of former Soviet republics, said at a meeting Monday it will not rule out the use of any measures to normalize the situation in Kyrgyzstan.

"China has taken note of the CSTO meeting on the Kyrgyzstan situation and understands the organization's efforts to preserve peace and stability in central Asia," said Qin.

"China has offered emergency humanitarian aid to the country and we sincerely hope the people of Kyrgyzstan will overcome the difficulties they face," the spokesman said.