DUSHANBE, September 5, Asia-Plus — China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will arrive in Tajikistan on September 14 for a two-day official visit, according to information from the Tajik MFA.
Source in the Tajik MFA says that during his stay in Tajikistan Mr. Wen Jiabao will attend a session of heads of government from member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), hold bilateral talks with President Rahmonov, and meet employees of the Chinese Embassy in Dushanbe.
Besides, China’s prime minister also will attend a ceremony of an official commencement of the construction of a 500-kW 350-kilometer power-transmission line linking Tajikistan’s southern and northern regions set for September 15.
We will recall that Tajik energy delegation visited China in this spring this year. Tajik and Chinese power companies signed contracts worth $340 million for construction of high-voltage electricity lines. The “Barqi Tojik” (Tajik electric systems) state joint-stock holding company and China Theban Electric Apparatus Stock Co. had agreed to build a 500-kW 350-km line linking Tajikistan”s southern and northern regions and a 220-kW 90-kilometer “Lolazor-Khatlon” line linking south and east. The projects are worth $281 million and $59 million, respectively. It was also noted that China Exim Bank would grant a $300 million loan for these projects, and the Tajik government would provide US$40 million for implementing the project.
