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Hu seeks to expand energy, trade ties with Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek (AFP) Aug 15, 2007 Chinese President Hu Jintao sought a new energy and transport corridor for his country's surging economy in Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, the second day of a Central Asian tour to boost ties with the region. Hu met Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev during his first ever visit to this mountainous ex-Soviet state, which lies on China's western edge. The two presidents said they were nearing agreement on building a rail link from western China through Kyrgyzstan and on to Uzbekistan, from where it could potentially extend south or west. The Kyrgyz prime minister said his country would like to host a gas pipeline that could be built from gas-rich Turkmenistan to China. "A political decision on building the railway from Uzbekistan to China through Kyrgyzstan has practically already been taken," Atambayev said. "We very much need this to help us escape our transport dead end." Beijing "unwaveringly supports this project", Hu said. "The project has already become a part of China's economic development plan." On the question of a gas pipeline to pass through Kyrgyzstan to China, Atambayev said: "China wants to import gas from Turkmenistan and we are asking that a pipeline pass through Kyrgyzstan. This would be profitable and wouldn't make the pipeline longer. "We're even ready to contribute to this ourselves." China has in recent years been on a drive to gain access to the vast oil and gas reserves of ex-Soviet Central Asia to feed its booming economy. Chinese goods have also penetrated Central Asian markets, often passing through Kyrgyzstan. Kazakh oil currently flows through a new pipeline directly to China, but Beijing continues to search for new avenues of energy sources in the region. Last month China National Petroleum Corporation signed a 30-year deal with Turkmenistan for 30 billion cubic metres (1.1 trillion cubic feet) of Turkmen gas a year, which would be shipped through the proposed pipeline. Turkmenistan ranks about 10th in the world by the size of its gas reserves. But the gas pipeline may prove difficult to realise, in part because of the vast distance between the two countries. A similar project to extend an 8,000-kilometre (4,960-mile) gas pipeline between China and Turkmenistan was announced in 1998 but never came to fruition. The rail project, meanwhile, has long been pursued by Kyrgyzstan's western neighbour Uzbekistan, which has even said that it could link up to the oil-rich Persian Gulf. Hu arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday at the start of a three-country tour of neighbouring states. A key event is a summit in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. From there Hu heads on to SCO military exercises in Russia on Friday, before going to Kazakhstan. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links China News from SinoDaily.com
US toymaker Mattel recalls 18 million Chinese-made toys
Washington (AFP) Aug 14, 2007Fears about toy safety soared Tuesday as US toymaker Mattel recalled more than 18 million Chinese-made products worldwide, amid concerns about high lead levels and small magnets which have seriously injured at least three children. |
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