Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Kyrgyz counterpart Kurmanbek Bakiyev on Thursday agreed to promote cooperation of the two countries in various fields.

During a meeting with Bakiyev, Hu said "The consensus reached between us during my visit to Kyrgyzstan last year to fully deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas has been orderly put into practice, and bilateral ties have made new progress."

China attaches great importance to its ties with Kyrgyzstan and regards Kyrgyzstan as an important partner in Central Asia, he added.

Hu urged the two sides to well implement bilateral cooperative programs in the building of roads and railways, and to promote business at land ports to deepen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The president said China is also willing to strengthen security cooperation with Kyrgyzstan.

Bakiyev said Kyrgyzstan has increased contacts with China "in all fields and at all levels" after Hu's visit in 2007.

He also highly spoke of bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and other multilateral organs.

"The Kyrgyz government, legislature and political parties will make all efforts to promote ties and advance cooperation in all areas with China," he said.

Speaking of the situation in Central Asia, Hu said China pays close attention to the changes of regional situation and will make its own efforts to promote solidarity, social stability and economic development among Central Asian nations.

China is also willing to closely coordinate with Kyrgyzstan to make Central Asia become a harmonious region featuring lasting peace and common prosperity, he said.

Bakiyev said Kyrgyzstan will continue to make efforts along with China and other nations in the region to safeguard regional peace and stability.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the SCO summit which concluded earlier Thursday. The SCO, founded in 2001, groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

After paying a state visit to Tajikistan and attending the SCO summit, Hu would fly to Turkmenistan on Thursday night. He has already visited the Republic of Korea, the first-leg of his three-nation tour in Asia.

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2008)