Bishkek, 8 September 1997 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyz Prime Minister Apas Joumagulov held a news conference in Bishkek Friday on the results of his visit to China's Xinjiang province earlier this week.
Joumagulov said that the main aim of the visit was to see how the huge oil and gas deposits in Xinjiang are being developed. Joumagulov said conditions in the Tarim desert in Xinjiang and in the At-Bashy and Aksai areas of Kyrgyzstan are similar, and geologists believe there may be oil reserves there also.
A further Kyrgyz-Chinese bilateral meeting to discuss oil developments will be held on September 29 either in Bishkek or Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang.
Opening a new frontier crossing between China and Kyrgyzstan in July, Joumagulov had said that economic cooperation between the two countries is growing. Kyrgyzstan also plans to broaden military cooperation with China.
Joumagulov said that the main aim of the visit was to see how the huge oil and gas deposits in Xinjiang are being developed. Joumagulov said conditions in the Tarim desert in Xinjiang and in the At-Bashy and Aksai areas of Kyrgyzstan are similar, and geologists believe there may be oil reserves there also.
A further Kyrgyz-Chinese bilateral meeting to discuss oil developments will be held on September 29 either in Bishkek or Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang.
Opening a new frontier crossing between China and Kyrgyzstan in July, Joumagulov had said that economic cooperation between the two countries is growing. Kyrgyzstan also plans to broaden military cooperation with China.