China's top legislator eyes more practical cooperation with Kyrgyzstan

China

China's top legislator eyes more practical cooperation with Kyrgyzstan

2025-07-25 21:12 Last Updated At：22:17

China's top legislator Zhao Leji expressed readiness to further boost practical cooperation with Kyrgyzstan during an official goodwill visit from Wednesday to Thursday.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and held talks with Kyrgyz Parliament Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu in Bishkek during the visit.

When meeting with Japarov, Zhao first conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and best wishes.

Hailing the leapfrog development of bilateral relations as in their best shape ever, Zhao said that China is willing to work with Kyrgyzstan to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, carry forward traditional friendship, enhance strategic mutual trust, and firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests.

He called on the two sides to expand trade and investment, advance the high quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as cross-border road construction, modernization of ports, digital trade, and green energy.

The two sides should promote people-to-people exchanges, jointly ensure the implementation of people's livelihood projects, and continuously enrich the dimensions of the China-Kyrgyzstan comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, Zhao said.

China is willing to work with Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries to uphold the China-Central Asia Spirit, take the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation as an opportunity to implement more cooperation measures and projects, and promote the building of a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future, Zhao noted.

He also urged joint efforts to deepen cooperation in law enforcement and security, resolutely fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism, and separatism, and jointly maintain regional security and stability.

Japarov, for his part, asked Zhao to convey his sincere greetings to Xi.

He said that Kyrgyzstan firmly supports China's position on issues concerning its core interests and major concerns including Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Xizang, supports the three major global initiatives proposed by Xi, and actively participates in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Deeming the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway not only an important transportation corridor but also a road of friendship, Japarov expressed his willingness to further enhance cooperation in areas such as investment, finance, culture, legislative bodies and multilateral affairs.

When meeting with Turgunbek uulu, Zhao said that the NPC of China is willing to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state with the parliament of Kyrgyzstan, strengthen exchanges at all levels of the legislature, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship.

He called for leveraging the functional role of the legislative body to provide legal guarantees for practical cooperation between the two countries and strengthening coordination and cooperation within multilateral parliamentary mechanisms to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

For his part, Turgunbek uulu said that the Kyrgyz Parliament is willing to closely communicate and cooperate with the NPC of China to follow through on the consensus reached by the two heads of state, play an active role as the legislative body in promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, facilitating bilateral cooperation in economic, trade, local, cultural, scientific, technological, and educational fields, and improving the investment and business environment. During this visit, Zhao also inspected the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Co., Ltd. urging builders to uphold dedication, quality, efficiency, and integrity, ensuring safe and high-standard completion of this Belt and Road flagship project.

He also laid a wreath at the Great Urkun memorial.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.