FM meets with Tajik counterpart to strengthen ties

China on Monday expressed willingness to work with Tajikistan to build a community with a shared future between the two sides to inject strong impetus into the development of bilateral relations.

Visiting State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks as he met with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

The year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Tajikistan.

Noting China-Tajikistan cooperation in various fields has overcome challenges of the pandemic, Wang said economic and trade volume between the two sides is expected to reach a record high this year.

He called for the two countries to deepen synergy of development strategies, strengthen cooperation in fields including energy capacity and infrastructure and expand cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital economy and new energy.

China would continue to advance major assistance projects, run the first Luban Workshop in Central Asia, and import more high-quality green agricultural products from Tajikistan, Wang said.

Beijing would continue to provide vaccines to Dushanbe and build a China-Tajikistan center for traditional medicine, he added.

Wang suggested the two countries bolster their security cooperation and improve their ability to guard against risk so as to safeguard their common home.

Wang also reiterated China's support for Tajikistan in upholding sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, following a path that is suited to its national conditions and playing a more important role in regional and international affairs.

Noting Tajikistan and China are good neighbors, friends and partners, Muhriddin said Tajikistan resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests and has always abided by the one-China principle.

Tajikistan welcomes and supports the vision of building a community with a shared future between the two countries, he said, adding the two sides could further discuss this.

Saying Tajikistan admires China's remarkable achievements in poverty alleviation and innovation, Muhriddin said Tajikistan looks forward to learning from China's successful experience to achieve sustainable development and accelerate industrialization.

He expressed the hope they would deepen bilateral connectivity, expand economic, trade and investment cooperation and strengthen anti-pandemic cooperation with China.

As Tajikistan-China relations are far beyond bilateral, he said Tajikistan is willing to enhance communication and coordination with China under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, deepen security cooperation to safeguard regional peace and tranquility.

After the talks, they signed cooperation documents of two countries' foreign ministries and also attended the inauguration ceremony of the Luban Workshop and the handover ceremony of vaccines donated to Tajikistan.