China, Tajikistan pitch for closer energy cooperation, stronger SCO(2)

CHINA'S ENERGY AORTA

Xi's state visit to Tajikistan following the SCO summit has offered a fresh opportunity for the two countries to reaffirm commitment to deepened strategic partnership and enhanced practical cooperation.

During the visit, the two sides adopted a five-year development plan for the China-Tajikistan strategic partnership, giving high priority to energy cooperation.

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony of the Tajikistan section of Line-D of the Central Asia-China gas pipelines, Xi said the project is of strategic significance that involves and benefits multiple parties.

The 1000-km-long Line-D, one of China's major energy cooperation projects in Central Asia, will run from Turkmenistan across Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to China, with an expected delivery capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas every year once completed in 2016.

Among all countries the pipeline travels through, Tajikistan has the longest section of about 410 km.

"I believe this energy aorta, a symbol of China-Tajikistan friendship, will be built on time with joint efforts and close cooperation between our two countries," he said.

When meeting with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon, Xi proposed that the two countries set a goal of increasing bilateral trade to three billion U.S. dollars in five years.

China is currently Tajikistan's third largest trade partner. Bilateral trade reached 1.959 billion dollars in 2013.

Xi also invited Tajikistan to join China's initiative to build the Silk Road Economic Belt for common development along the ancient trade route.

China and Tajikistan, he suggested, should cooperate more closely in oil and gas, electricity, trade and infrastructure, improve interconnectivity, and guarantee a smooth construction of the China-Central Asia gas pipelines.

Tajikistan is the first leg of Xi's four-nation Asia tour, which will also take him to the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India.