BISHKEK - The upcoming visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to Kyrgyzstan will give a powerful impetus to further development of Kyrgyzstan-China relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries, Kyrgyz parliament speaker said in a recent interview.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

During an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Speaker Chynybay Tursunbekov said that the constant maintenance of political contacts between the two countries creates conditions for strengthening mutual political trust and trade and economic cooperation.

The official visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to Kyrgyzstan will "give a powerful impetus to further development of Kyrgyz-Chinese relations and deepen cooperation between the two countries," he said.

"Since the establishment of diplomatic relations (in January 1992), Kyrgyzstan and China have built a truly good-neighborly and friendly relationship, characterized by equality, mutual respect and trust," said the speaker.

"They have also established mutually beneficial cooperation in political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres," he added.

According to Tursunbekov, trade and economic cooperation between the two countries is successful and fruitful, marking one of the main components of bilateral strategic partnership which was upgraded in 2013 during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Kyrgyzstan.

The main areas of cooperation lie in infrastructure, transport, energy, mining, inter-regional and cross-border cooperation, he said.