Special report:   Peace Mission 2007

    BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's first-ever visit to Kyrgyzstan will promote the practical cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan, said the Foreign Ministry Thursday.

    "I believe President Hu's state visit to Kyrgyzstan will enhance political mutual trust, promote practical cooperation, deepen security coordination and expand practical exchanges," said Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui at a press briefing on Hu's coming three-nation tour to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia from August 14 to 18.

    Li noted that this is Hu's first visit to Kyrgyzstan, which comes at a time to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Kyrgyzstan and the 5th anniversary of the signing of China-Kyrgyzstan Friendly Treaty on Good-Neighborly Cooperation, and thus is of great significance.

    Li said Hu will visit Kyrgyzstan from August 14 to 15, during which he will hold talks with President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev and meet with other leaders of Kyrgyzstan. The two sides will exchange views on major issues of common concern and interests.

    Li added that the two sides will also sign a series of cooperation agreements on such fields as politics, economy and trade, agriculture and education.

    During the three-nation tour, Hu will also attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit(SCO) in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, observe the SCO joint anti-terrorism military drill in Russia and pay a state visit to Kazakhstan.

    China-Kyrgyzstan relationship has developed with a good momentum in recent years. The Kyrgyzstan President visited China in June, 2006, which experts said marked the start of a new period for the development of China-Kyrgyzstan relations.

    China-Kyrgyzstan trade volume hit 2.26 billion U.S. dollars last year, according to official statistics, up 128.6 percent over the previous year. The trade volume for the first half of this year has reached 1.14 billion dollars, up 73.5 percent over the same period of last year. Kyrgyzstan is now the second largest trade partner of China in central Asia.