Tajik president vows to expand cooperation with China

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has said that his country is willing to expand pragmatic cooperation with China in such fields as trade, energy, and agriculture.

At a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday, Rahmon also said that Tajikistan is willing to create favorable conditions for the construction of the China-Central Asia gas pipeline, actively participate in the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt, deepen exchanges in education, culture, tourism, and enhance law enforcement cooperation, among others.

The Tajik leader said that his country is sincerely looking forward to Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Tajikistan and his attendance at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which is scheduled for September in Dushanbe.

Rahmon believed that Xi's visit will be a new starting point of the relations between Tajikistan and China.

Wang said the heads of state of the two countries have mapped out a series of arrangements and plans over the past year to advance the strategic partnership between China and Tajikistan.

China is willing to join hands with Tajikistan to implement the consensus reached between leaders of the two countries, and constantly deepen the relations of good neighborliness and friendship, and strengthen cooperation in all fields, he said.

Currently, the key task is to make preparations for Xi's state visit to Tajikistan and attendance at the SCO summit, so as to push forward the China-Tajikistan strategic partnership to a new stage, Wang said.

China will fully support and work together with Tajikistan, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the SCO, to ensure the success of the upcoming SCO summit, he said.

Wang attended a meeting of SCO foreign ministers on Thursday.