China, Tajikistan to enhance strategic cooperative partnership

China is ready to work with Tajikistan to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and to push for new progress of the China-Tajikistan comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.

Wang made the remarks in the first strategic dialogue with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin in Dushanbe.

In the face of a complex and turbulent international landscape, it is a timely move to launch the strategic dialogue mechanism between the two foreign minsters, which will help enhance strategic communication, consolidate strategic mutual trust, and jointly address new challenges and risks, he said.

Wang called on the two countries to continue expanding the scale of bilateral trade and investment, deepen cooperation in connectivity and mineral resources, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

China is willing to increase imports of high-quality agricultural products from Tajikistan and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, he said.
The two countries should also strengthen security cooperation, carry out joint patrols to prevent the infiltration and spread of terrorist forces, so as to build a security barrier for the development of both countries, Wang said.

Noting that Afghanistan is a close neighbor to both China and Tajikistan, Wang said China will continue strengthening coordination with Tajikistan on the Afghan issue, and supporting Afghanistan in advancing reconstruction and development.

Muhriddin expressed gratitude for China's support for Tajikistan's development, pledging to work hand in hand with China to implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state and intensify exchanges at all levels.

Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon also met with Wang on Saturday.