Xi on a mission to boost South Asian ties

President Xi Jinping left on Thursday for a nine-day visit to South and Central Asia, aimed at bolstering the country's relations.  [Special coverage]

He is to attend the 14th meeting of the Council of Heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states on Thursday and Friday in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan.

SCO, grouping six full members, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, is poised to discuss major security, infrastructure and expansion documents.

Xi pledged in an article in Tajikistan's People's Gazette newspaper on Wednesday to further enhance China-Tajikistan relations as well as the development of the SCO.

He also proposed providing policy support to the implementation of large cooperation projects, and to work together to create a favorable environment for trade and investment.

China will work toward easing trade, developing road links, pushing for the use of each other's currencies in trade and strengthening people-to-people contacts with Tajikistan, Xi said.

After visiting Tajikistan, Xi will travel to the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India.

It will be his first visit as President to the South Asian countries.