China, Kyrgyzstan pledge to expand transportation cooperation

BEIJING, Oct. 15 -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vowed on Thursday to expand cooperation with Kyrgyzstan in transportation, a significant step to boost bilateral ties.

This was stated in a joint communique signed by Wen and his Kyrgyzstani counterpart Igor Chudinov, who is visiting China to attend the eighth prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.

Both sides agreed to build an international transportation road connecting China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. China and Kyrgyzstan will take active measures to accelerate the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. A joint discussion will be carried out on the funding of the three-country railway construction in Kyrgyzstan.

Both countries will tap the potential for cross-border transportation and offer mutual convenience in railway, aviation and road transportation.

China will also deepen the cooperation with Kyrgyzstan in customs, border check, etc. to jointly prevent and strike cross-border crimes to ensure the security and stability of the border areas of the two countries.