BISHKEK — China and Kyrgyzstan should beef up production capacity cooperation as well as collaboration in major infrastructure projects, visiting Premier Li Keqiang said on Nov 2.

Premier Li made the remarks when he met with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, during which he first conveyed to the president kind regards from President Xi Jinping.

Against a sluggish global economy and the complicated regional situation, China and Kyrgyzstan also need to tap their potentials, be innovative and promote cooperation in security law enforcement, Premier Li said.

The two sides should also promote the development of two-way trade and investment, while boosting regional inter-connectivity and safety as well as stability, so as to build a favorable environment for the realization of common development, said the Premier.

China is willing to deepen political mutual trust, advance practical cooperation and strengthen people-to-people exchanges with Kyrgyzstan, and enhance coordination on global and regional affairs, Premier Li added.

Hailing China and Kyrgyzstan as friendly neighbors bound by mountains and rivers, Premier Li said the two sides have reached several important consensuses during the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in June in Tashkent, capital city of Uzbekistan.

He further noted that China stands ready to jointly push forward the development of bilateral ties and cooperation to benefit the two peoples in a better way.

Calling China a sincere friend, Atambayev said Kyrgyzstan is deeply grateful to China’s assistance, which has never had any political strings attached, to help his country maintain stability and achieve development.

With strong aspiration for broader practical cooperation from both sides, Kyrgyzstan is willing to make joint efforts with China to implement bilateral cooperative consensuses, strengthen cooperation in such fields as traffic, information, communication and finance, said the President, calling on the two countries to deepen their friendly cooperation in a firmly manner.

Premier Li arrived in Bishkek earlier Nov 2 for an official visit to Kyrgyzstan and the 15th prime ministers’ meeting of the SCO.

Kyrgyzstan is the first leg of Premier Li’s ongoing eight-day four-country tour, which will also take him to Kazakhstan, Latvia and Russia.

Premier Li Keqiang (L) meets with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Nov 2, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]