Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held talks with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Chyngyz Aidarbekov in Bishkek, vowing to enhance cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

Wang noted that China and Kyrgyzstan are friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners linked by mountains and rivers. The two heads of states reached a wide range of consensuses on further developing a bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership on the sidelines of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in April.

Taking the opportunity of jointly building the Belt and Road, China is ready to pursue coordination of the development strategies between China and Kyrgyzstan and effectively implement the key projects for the benefit of the two peoples, the Chinese state councilor said during the meeting.

To this end, the two sides should work to build closer people-to-people ties, promote local-level cooperation, further strengthen security cooperation ties and expand cooperation in fighting the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, transnational crime and drug trafficking, said Wang, adding that China fully supports Kyrgyzstan in hosting the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in June to promote further cooperation among the member states.

Wang stressed that the sustained, steady and sound development of bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples. China appreciates Kyrgyzstan's firm support on some major issues concerning Taiwan and Xinjiang, and will resolutely support Kyrgyzstan's independent choice of development path as well as its internal and external policies to maintain national independence, sovereignty and security.

For his part, Aidarbekov extended warm congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and expressed sincere admiration for China's great achievements during the 40 years of reform and opening-up.

He noted that Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, fully supports the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and is ready to further promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, energy, transportation, agriculture and disaster relief.

The Kyrgyz foreign minister stressed that his country firmly upholds the one-China policy, fully supports China's stance on its internal affairs including Taiwan and Xinjiang issues and hopes the mutual political trust between the two countries can be further strengthened.

Following their talks, the two officials signed the Cooperation Program from 2020 to 2021 between the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry and jointly met with the press.

Also on Tuesday, Wang met with Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, with the two vowing to strengthen practical cooperation under the BRI between China and Kyrgyzstan. 

During a meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jeenbekov said China has been providing Kyrgyzstan with a large amount of selfless and sincere assistance for a long time without imposing its will on others, adding that China is indeed Kyrgyzstan's good neighbor, good friend and good partner.

Kyrgyzstan firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China's anti-terrorism measures in its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and will combat jointly with China the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, he said.

Jeenbekov said his country looks forward to the upcoming state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his attendance at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek.

Wang said China always respects Kyrgyz people's choice and intends to achieve common prosperity together with Kyrgyzstan.

China is ready to cooperate within the framework of the BRI with Kyrgyzstan in economy and trade, agriculture and inter-connectivity, he said.

Wang proposed more high-level interactions, closer coordination, and joint efforts for the success of the SCO Bishkek summit.

(Top image: Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Chyngyz Aidarbekov attend a signing ceremony of the Cooperation Program from 2020 to 2021 between Chinese Foreign Ministry and Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 21, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)