BISHKEK, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan and China should continue to develop bilateral ties, Sherani Baktygulov, consultant at the National Institute for Strategic Studies of Kyrgyzstan, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Commenting on the telephone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov on Monday, Baktygulov expressed hope that the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kyrgyzstan could rise to a new level.

"There are reasons for the development and of course there are also prospects in relations," the expert noted, pointing out that the border shared by the two countries exceeds 1,000 kilometers, and that the economic, trade and security ties between the two countries have been enhanced.

Speaking of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Baktygulov recalled the considerable number of ventilators that arrived in Kyrgyzstan from China last year, which he said proved to be useful across the country.

In contrast to the Anglo-Saxon approach where the world should be dominated by one force, China sees the development of the world as the progress of a community formed by peacefully coexisting countries, the expert said.

On the prospect of cooperation, Baktygulov said the development of the Belt and Road Initiative has become crucial in the bilateral relationship.

"For a more successful promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative, it would be good if the media and social networks were actively working, bringing information about China to ordinary Kyrgyzstanis in simple language," he said.

On the development of Xinjiang, Baktygulov said he has repeatedly visited the region and personally met with people from many ethnic groups over the past four years.

Xinjiang is developing rapidly, he emphasized.

"Some 30 years ago, Xinjiang, in particular Urumqi, was perceived as a provincial town. Now it is a modern, dynamically developing metropolis. Urumqi is turning into a financial hub for Central Asia, and it has long become an economic and trade hub," he said.