Dushanbe. June 18. “Asia-Plus” — Yesterday Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, who is currently on his official trip to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of the People’s Republic of China, met with Zhang Chunxian, Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Chairman of XUAR, in the city of Urumchi.
The sides have discussed cooperation issues between Tajikistan and Chinese province with 20 million population, President’s press service reported.
According to the source, President Rahmon noted that direct cooperation between Tajikistan and XUAR was established back in 2007 under Tajik-Chinese interstate agreement on friendship, cooperation and good-neighborly relations. Head of XUAR on his turn said that Tajikistan and China are good neighbors and support each other in many international issues and this cooperation continues to develop.
“Both sides have expressed their satisfaction with continuing growth of many-sided cooperation between the two countries in the past several years and stressed that one third of foreign trade turnover between Tajikistan and China accounts for XUAR. In the past three years it grew 310 times,” the source has said.
According to the press service, the sides have expressed their confidence that the launch of Qulma-Karasu border post that links the two countries will let develop Tajik-Chinese trade and economic cooperation. The post operates 240 days a year.
“The sides have highly evaluated the role of Chinese companies, the majority of which are registered in XUAR, in implementation of projects in energy, industry, transport, communication and mining sectors in Tajikistan. The sides have expressed their interest in establishing cooperation in agrarian sector, including cotton growing and drip irrigation sectors,” the source said.
The sides have signed three cooperation agreements: Agreement between the Governments of Tajikistan and China on development of cooperation between Tajikistan and XUAR, Agreement between Barki Tojik power and light company and Chinese TVEA company on construction of Khujand-Ayni 220kWt power line and Agreement between Tajik National University and XUAR State University.
“Intergovernmental agreement signed yesterday in the city of Urumchi provides for a long-term cooperation in such spheres as economy, energy, industry, transport and communication, agriculture, education and health care, science and culture and cooperation in combating global threats and challenges. Under the second agreement, the $36,9 billion worth Khujand-Ayni power line is expected to be erected in the course of 1,5 years,” the source reported.
In the course of his official trip to XUAR, President Rahmon also visited the local cultural park and national museum of XUAR.
