President Hu Jintao arrived in Kyrgyzstan yesterday for a state visit and to take part in a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization that will discuss regional security and economic issues.

In a written statement issued on his arrival in the capital, Bishkek, Hu noted that China and Kyrgyzstan are linked by common mountains and rivers and that the friendship between the people of the two nations dates back hundreds of years.

Results have been achieved on political, economic, security and other issues since the countries established diplomatic ties 15 years ago, Hu said.

The two governments have offered mutual support on issues concerning sovereignty and territorial integrity, thus safeguarding their common interests and guaranteeing the smooth development of bilateral ties, Hu said.

Hu said he and Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev will focus their talks on reviewing the development of friendly relations between the two countries and mapping out the future of China-Kyrgyzstan ties.

"We will also exchange views on a number of regional and global issues of common interest," he said.

During his stay, Hu will attend an annual SCO summit at which leaders of the member states will discuss the organization's achievements since the 2006 session in Shanghai and work out plans for future cooperation on security, economic and foreign affairs concerns. They are expected to sign a series of economic and other documents.

Leaders of the six member countries - China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - will sign a long-term friendship treaty at the summit, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui told a news briefing earlier.

"The treaty will confirm the SCO spirit of pursuing peace and friendship for generations to come and is of great significance to mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation in Central Asia," Li said.

The SCO, founded in Shanghai in 2001, pledges to enhance security, trade, cultural, military and judicial cooperation among member countries.