DUSHANBE, March 28, 2014, Asia-Plus — China’s Minister of Defense Chang Wanquan will arrive in Tajikistan Saturday evening on an official visit.
“While in Dushanbe, General Chang Wanquan will hold talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo, Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) told Asia-Plus in an interview.
“The sides will discuss issues related to providing regional security, expanding military and technical cooperation and carrying out joint events,” Mahmadaliyev noted.
According to him, Chinese defense minister will also get acquainted with the pace of construction of the House of Officers, which is being built in Dushanbe under financial support of China.
“Construction of the House of Officers began in 2012 and the Government of China provided a $12 million grant for this project,” the spokesman said, adding that General Chang Wanquan will also attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers’ meeting in Qairoqqum.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense of China (MND) reports Chinese defense minister will visit Tajikistan from March 29 to April 1, 2014. Geng Yansheng, spokesman for a MND, said at a regular press conference on March 27, 2014 that at the invitation of Tajikistan defense minister, Chang Wanquan, state councilor and minister of national defense of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), will begin his trip of official good-will visit to Tajikistan from March 29 to April 1, 2014 and attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers” Meeting there.
During his visit, Gen. Chang Wanquan will discuss in-depth the consensus reached by leaders of the SCO member states and the concrete measures of maintaining regional security and stability with defense ministers of the SCO member states , and deepen the defense and security cooperation so as to fight against terrorism , separatism and extremism.
