DUSHANBE, August 26, 2008, Asia-Plus — On Monday August 25, President Emomali Rahmon received visiting President of the Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) of China, Mr. Li Ruogu, Their talks focused on the progress of implementation of China-sponsored projects in Tajikistan.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Rahmon, Mr. Li said that they would fulfill all their obligations on agreements reached between the governments of China and Tajikistan.
According to him, they, in particular, discussed three projects funded by the Eximbank in Tajikistan, including the projects for construction of the power grids South-North and Lolazor-Khatlon as well as rehabilitation of the highway Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak (Uzbekistan).
“The Chinese side has allocated US$603.5 million in preferential loans for implementation of these projects; 133 million dollars of the loan funds have already been drawn,” the Eximbank president said, noting that they had also discussed the possibility of construction of a number of hydroelectric power plants in Tajikistan under financial support of China.
Established in 1994 and solely owned by the central government, the Eximbank is a government policy bank under the direct leadership of the State Council. Its international credit ratings are compatible to the national sovereign ratings. At present, the Bank has over ten business branches and domestic representative offices, as well as three overseas representative offices in Johannesburg, Paris and St. Petersburg. It has established and maintained correspondent relationship with more than 300 overseas banks worldwide.
