Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Afghanistan on the sidelines of the 17th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government in the Tajik capital Dushanbe on Friday.
China, Kyrgyzstan to further enhance bilateral ties
China is willing to intensify high-level exchanges with Kyrgyzstan to jointly enhance bilateral ties to benefit the people on both sides, Li said during a meeting with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammedkaliy Abylgaziyev on Friday.
Li said that the two countries are highly complementary in economy and have a lot of room for cooperation, adding that China stands ready to further synergize the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the Kyrgyz development strategies and push for an early implementation of the existing projects.
He called for more cooperation in connectivity, adding that China encourages capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Kyrgyzstan and hopes that Kyrgyzstan can facilitate the work of these firms and their employees.
Abylgaziyev said that China has been a good neighbor, partner, and friend of Kyrgyzstan and that the two countries have maintained close high-level exchanges and solid mutual trust.
Kyrgyzstan firmly supports the one-China policy, actively participates in the BRI and resolutely fights against the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism, and separatism, said Abylgaziyev.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, October 12, 2018. /Xinhua Photo
More tangible results in China-Uzbekistan cooperation
Premier Li called on China and Uzbekistan to continue their concerted efforts and turn their high-level political ties into more concrete results in bilateral cooperation.
Li made the remarks during a meeting with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov on Friday, hailing the long-term friendship, increasing practical cooperation and deepening political mutual trust between the two countries.
China would like to tap the potential in agricultural cooperation and import high-quality agricultural produce from Uzbekistan, Li said, calling for closer win-win cooperation in areas such as trade, people-to-people exchanges, and local-level cooperation.
Aripov said Uzbekistan supports the BRI and hopes to speed up the construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Rumas in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, October 12, 2018. /Xinhua Photo
China to dovetail development strategies with Belarus
China is ready to better develop strategies with Belarus, Li said while meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Rumas on Friday.
Li encouraged the two countries to promote win-win practical cooperation, intensify cultural and people-to-people exchanges and expand cooperation in the areas of tourism and education, noting that bilateral cooperation on Belt and Road construction has reaped an early harvest with the successful implementation of the China-Belarus industrial park.
Rumas said Belarus is willing to enhance cooperation with China under the BRI via the platform of the China-Belarus industrial park and take the opportunity of this year's Belarus-China Tourism Year program to boost tourism cooperation.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, October 12, 2018. /Xinhua Photo
China to play a constructive role in Afghanistan
China will continue to support the Afghan government in safeguarding national security and stability and promoting the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political reconciliation, Li said during a meeting with Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Friday.
Li said China will enhance anti-terror cooperation and personnel training with Afghanistan, and promote trilateral cooperation among China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
China has always been a good friend of Afghanistan, Abdullah said, expressing his gratitude to China's long-term assistance to his country.
Abdullah said Afghanistan is willing to enhance cooperation with China in areas such as economy and trade, electricity generation, agricultural produce and counterterrorism, and to actively participate in China-Afghanistan-Pakistan cooperation.
(Cover photo: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammedkaliy Abylgaziyev in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, October 12, 2018. /Xinhua Photo)
(With inputs from Xinhua News Agency)