DUSHANBE, April 29, 2010, Asia-Plus — Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi’s official visit to Tajikistan is concluding today evening.
On Wednesday April 28, Zarifi held talks with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Gopen (phonetically spelled), according to the Tajik MFA information department. In the course of the talks, the sides discussed state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and China as well as the progress of implementation of joint economic and trade projects.
Yesterday, Zarifi also met with Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping. The sides discussed cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the MFA information department said.
In the meantime, China’s news agency Xinhua reports Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping hailed bilateral relations with Tajikistan, pledging to further boost cooperation. Xi spoke highly of the sound development of bilateral ties since China and Tajikistan established diplomatic ties in 1992. He highlighted the deepening of mutual political trust, including through increased cooperation and close coordination in multilateral bodies like the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
“China always attaches importance to the relations with Tajikistan and will work together with Tajikistan to further promote political mutual trust, increase cooperation, and push forward good-neighborly and friendly cooperation,” Xi said.
Zarifi expressed Tajikistan”s appreciation over China”s assistance since its independence. He pledged to unswervingly stick to the one-China policy and support China”s stance on the Taiwan issue, on affairs concerning Tibet, and on the crackdown on “Eastern Turkistan” forces, Xinhua reported.
