On Sunday March 1, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met here with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee.
According to the Tajik president’s official website, Rahmon and Yang discussed the current state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Chine.
Both sides reportedly expressed interest in further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
They, in particular, noted that inter-party ties between the countries were an important component of relationships between Tajikistan and China and facilitated strengthening of friendship and neighborliness between the peoples of the two countries.
They also discussed issues related to trade, investment, educational and scientific cooperation between Tajikistan and China as well as implementation of industrial, energy, agricultural, and infrastructure development projects in Tajikistan.
They considered it important to implement the Tajikistan-China cooperation program in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (B&R), a global development strategy adopted by the adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 and formerly known as One Belt One Road (OBOR).
Rahmon and Yang also exchanged views on cooperation in combating international terrorism and extremism, organized crime and other negative phenomena of the modern world, the Tajik president’s official website said.
Meanwhile, Xinhua notes that during the meeting, Yang recalled that last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Rahmon agreed to jointly build the China-Tajikistan development community and security community, outlining a new blueprint for developing relations between the two countries, which he noted are good neighbors, friends, partners and brothers.
China is willing to work with Tajikistan to implement the consensus reached between the two heads of state, unswervingly support each other, deepen practical cooperation, safeguard common security and strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, Yang said.
Yang reportedly briefed the Tajik president on the progress China has made in its all-out fight against the novel coronavirus under Xi's leadership, as well as on the anti-virus measures adopted in tandem with those aimed at promoting economic and social development.
China thanks Tajikistan for sending medical equipment to assist its anti-virus efforts, Yang said, adding that China will continue working with countries including Tajikistan in fighting the coronavirus and safeguarding regional and global public health security.
For his part, Rahmon spoke highly of China's anti-virus fight. The Chinese people will definitely defeat the virus under President Xi's leadership, he said, according to Xinhua.
Rahmon said Tajikistan considers it as a foreign policy priority to develop relations with China, which is a close neighbor and reliable strategic partner of Tajikistan.
China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian noted that invited by the governments of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Yang Jiechi will visit Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan from February 29 to March 4.
