BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan is a faithful supporter and an active participant of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in various areas, Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov said on March 13 during a meeting with newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Du Dewen, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
Jeenbekov stressed that Kyrgyzstan values the friendship between the two countries and considers the development of relations with China as one of the priorities of its foreign policy.
He thanked China for its long-time support and assistance to Kyrgyzstan, saying his country is ready to further strengthen political mutual trust with the Chinese side.
Jeenbekov also expressed his hope to visit China, and to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Du Dewen, who presented her credentials to the Kyrgyz president on Wednesday, said that China and Kyrgyzstan are friendly neighbors, and the relations between the two countries maintain a good dynamic of healthy and stable development.
Du noted that thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kyrgyzstan will continue to be boosted.
Du assured Jeenbekov that during her tenure, she would make every effort to strengthen the traditional friendship between China and Kyrgyzstan and to promote pragmatic cooperation between the two sides to benefit the two peoples.
This comes amid the rising anti-China sentiment in Kyrgyzstan in recent months, largely caused by reports on Beijing’s persecution of ethnic Kyrgyz, among other Muslim minorities, in China’s Xinjiang region.
Beijing has denied any repression against the Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.
