Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, who is currently in Xi’an to attend the second China + Central Asia (C+C5) foreign ministers meeting, yesterday met there with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The Tajik MFA information department says that in the course of the talks, the two discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and China and expressed mutual interest in further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
Muhriddin and Wang reportedly also discussed implementation of agreements reached during the telephone conversations between the leaders of Tajikistan and China, the signing of new bilateral documents, coordination of joint activities in various formats, including within the framework of meetings of the Joint Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation and political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Tajikistan and China.
The parties stressed the importance of expanding trade, economic, investment, scientific and technical ties between the two countries, expanding inter-parliamentary relation, cooperation in the field of industry and energy, culture, tourism and etc.
They also discussed bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and China within the framework of international and regional organizations and collaboration between the two countries in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting ended with signing of the Program of Cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of the Republic of Tajikistan and the People's Republic of China designed for 2021-2022, the Tajik MFA information department says.
Meanwhile, Xinhua reports that while meeting with Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Wang said that as brothers, good neighbors, and “iron friends,” China and Tajikistan should earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state. The two sides should continue enhancing the “gold content” of bilateral relations, consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust, upgrade the scale and quality of cooperation, and push China-Tajikistan relations for a new development stage.
Echoing Wang's remarks, Sirojiddin Muhriddin reportedly said that Tajikistan regards China as its most reliable strategic partner. Tajikistan is ready to expand cooperation with China regarding the Belt and Road (B&R) and would continue to support the one-China principle, according to Xinhua.
