Premier Wen seeks to expand trade at SCO meeting

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek Tuesday to attend the 11th prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in a mission expected to be focused on economic and trade cooperation.

Wen is paying an official visit to Kyrgyzstan before flying to Russia to hold talks with Russian leaders on trade and energy.

Vice Premier Wang Qishan, who is in charge of the economy and financing, Zhang Ping, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, and Minister of Commerce Chen Deming are accompanying Wen on this trip, which extends from Tuesday to Thursday.

Kyrgyzstan expects the SCO countries will have effective discussions on the most important issues at the meeting slated for Tuesday and Wednesday, then take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation, Kubanychbek Taabaldiyev, director of the Kyrgyz national news agency, told Xinhua.

The SCO, which groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, has gradually grown into an influential international organization that not only focuses on anti-terrorism, but also economics and trade.

The fact that many countries are interested in SCO membership proves its authority, he said.

Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister, Qamar Zaman Kaira told the press in Islamabad that his country will bid for permanent membership during the meeting in Bishkek.

India has also showed interest in joining this regional group.

In a written speech delivered at the airport, Premier Wen said that China and Kyrgyzstan had enjoyed and benefited from cooperation since they forged diplomatic relations two decades ago.

Wen said he would meet Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev to discuss consolidating the China-Kyrgyzstan friendship, broadening mutually beneficial cooperation in all spheres and global and regional issues of common concern.

Wen said he believed the SCO meeting would inject new dynamics into the SCO with the support of its member states.

Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping told the media on Thursday that during Wen's visit to Russia, the two countries would seek mutual support on issues concerning both sides' core interests, and China hopes to make some progress in terms of cooperation on oil, gas and nuclear power.