On the afternoon of December 4 local time, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Bishkek to attend the 11th prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan.

In a written speech delivered at the airport, Wen said China and Kyrgyzstan are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, and the traditional friendship of the two peoples goes back to ancient times. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 20 years ago, both sides have treated each other with respect and sincerity, China-Kyrgyzstan good-neighborly friendship and cooperation have been developing constantly and bilateral economic cooperation has yielded fruitful results in various fields. The two countries had become good neighbors, friends and partners, he said.

Wen said he would meet Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev to discuss consolidating the traditional China-Kyrgyzstan friendship, broadening win-win cooperation in all spheres and global and regional issues of common concern. He believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, the visit will be a great success.

The Kyrgyz government had worked hard to prepare for the SCO meeting, Wen said, adding he believed the meeting would inject dynamics into the SCO with the support of its member states.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev, Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Wang Kaiwen and other officials greeted Wen at the airport.

At the airport, Satybaldiyev held a grand welcome ceremony for Premier Wen.