Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji met Wednesday with Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Rasulovich Yunusov and Kyrgyzstan Minister of Transport Kubanychbek Zhumaliyev.

The guests are attending the second meeting of the three nations' joint working committee on railways. Zhu spoke highly of the progress made at the meeting, saying that construction of a railway linking the three countries will be of great significance to the existing friendship among them.

The railway will also help promote economic and social development in the areas along it and increase economic and cultural exchanges between Asian and European countries, Zhu said.

The premier said he hopes that the three nations will strengthen cooperation so as to finish the construction work at an early date.

The guests expressed confidence in an early completion of the railway.

(Xinhua 06/13/2001)