DUSHANBE, January 16, Asia-Plus — On Monday January 15, China and Tajikistan signed a friendship and cooperation treaty in Beijing.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov and his Chinese counterpart, President Hu Jintao, inked the document after talks in the Chinese capital. The two heads of state also presided over the singing of other cooperation agreements in economic and technological spheres. Both parties pledged to develop a long-term neighborly relations aimed at supporting economic ties and strengthening their respective positions on international arena.
President Rahmonov arrived in Beijing Sunday evening on a six-day visit to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries.
Abdufattoh Sharipov, a spokesman for the Tajik president, reported from Beijing that on January 15, President Rahmonov met with his Chinese counterpart, President Hu Jintao. In the course of the talks the two discussed a state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and China. Rahmonov and Hu, in particular, exchanged views on cooperation between the two nations in the fields of commerce, transportation, communications, energy, industry, agriculture, culture, and education.
“During the talks it was noted that over the past five years, a trade between the two countries has increased more than twenty times and the presidents vowed to develop mutually beneficial economic ties,” Sharipov said.
The Chinese side supported Rahmonov’s proposal to project a program for an economic cooperation for the period until 2015, according to the spokesman.
According to Sharipov, Rahmonov noted that China is close neighbor and reliable partner of Tajikistan. “Strengthening of friendly ties with China has been and remains one of priorities and main directions of Tajikistan’s foreign policy,” Rahmonov said.
For his part, Hu hailed a high economic growth rate in Tajikistan and noted that his country is ready to support the present socioeconomic policy of Tajikistan in future as well. President Hu ordered the Chinese Government to allot 70 million yuan (equivalent to nearly $9 million) in no-strings aid to Tajikistan, according to Sharipov.
In the course of the talks the two also exchanged views on addressing modern challenges and threats and issues on providing regional security.
After the official meeting, Rahmonov and Hu signed the friendship and cooperation treaty. According to the new accord, Tajikistan reaffirmed its support for Beijing”s “One China” policy. Under the treaty, China supports Tajikistan”s policy aimed at strengthening national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and ensuring sustainable economic development in the country.
Rahmonov and Hu also presided over the singing of other cooperation documents: an agreement between the governments of Tajikistan and China on technical-economic cooperation; an agreement on handover of mobile X-ray equipment; an agreement on aerial communication between Tajikistan and China; a supplementary protocol to an agreement between the education ministries and a supplementary principle agreement between central banks of the two countries.
The same day, Rahmonov held meetings with top managers of a number of large banks and companies of China to discuss cooperation issues.
