Bishkek, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev on Thursday lauded the friendly relationship between Kyrgyzstan and China.

"We very much appreciate the support and assistance of China and Chinese President Xi Jinping," said Atambayev in response to a question concerning the Belt and Road Initiative raised by Xinhua.

"And when Xi proposed the Initiative, Kyrgyzstan was the first country in Central Asia that expressed support for it," he said at an annual presidential press conference at the Ala-Archa state residence outside Bishkek.

"In fact, there is a restoration of the Great Silk Road in different directions," he said.

Voicing his support for the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan railway, the president said: "We would like to set a transfer station at the entrance of the railway in Kyrgyzstan in the Narun region near the border with China."

Present at the annual press conference were some 130 reporters from 76 news organizations.