On August 31, 2017, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, who was in China for the state visit and the Dialogue between Emerging Market Economies and Developing Countries. The two heads of state agreed to establish China-Tajikistan comprehensive strategic partnership to push bilateral relations for greater development at a new historical starting point.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Tajikistan are intimate and friendly neighboring countries as well as strategic partners with high mutual trust. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 25 years ago, both countries have always respected, understood and supported each other, making the development of bilateral relations achieve fruitful results. Bilateral high-level exchanges, political mutual trust and practical cooperation have reached an unprecedented high level since the establishment of strategic partnership between both countries in 2013. China is willing to, together with Tajikistan, take the advancement of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership as an opportunity, so as to boost bilateral relations for in-depth development.
Xi Jinping stressed that China highly admires Tajikistan for actively supporting the "Belt and Road" initiative from the very beginning. Both sides should promote the in-depth docking of the "Belt and Road" construction with Tajikistan's national development strategy for the period up to 2030, well implement the planning outline of bilateral cooperation, and enhance cooperation in transportation, energy, ports and network infrastructure construction to build an all-round connectivity pattern. The two sides need to forge new cooperative growth points, enhance agricultural cooperation, deepen production capacity cooperation and support scientific and technical innovation and communication. Both sides should strengthen economic and trade cooperation. China supports Tajikistan to build cooperative links with Chinese financial institutions, the Silk Road Fund and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and is ready to work with Tajikistan to promote trade and investment facilitation. As countries with ancient civilizations along the Silk Road, China and Tajikistan should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in culture, education and youth, and consolidate the public opinion foundation of bilateral friendship.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has played an important role in safeguarding regional stability and prosperity since its establishment 16 years ago. As rotating presidency of the SCO, China stands ready to closely coordinate with Tajikistan to jointly elevate SCO's cooperation in politics, security, economy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, external exchanges and mechanism construction to new stages. In the next stage, the SCO members should intensify security cooperation, promote connectivity and trade facilitation progress, gradually foster an integrated development pattern in the region, boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges and deepen mutual understanding and friendship among people of all countries.
Emomali Rahmon expressed that China is a good neighbor, good partner and good brother of Tajikistan. Bilateral relations have achieved long-term development and both sides have established close relations in all areas including politics, economy, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges since the establishment of diplomatic relations 25 years ago. Both countries have developed fruitful economic and trade investment cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Tajikistan actively supports cooperation in the Silk Road Economic Belt construction, and is willing to work with China to deeply tap bilateral cooperative potential, and expand cooperation in such fields as finance, agriculture, water conservancy, production capacity, energy, mining, scientific and technological parks and transportation connectivity. Tajikistan attaches importance to cementing communication in education, culture, youth and local affairs with China, and is ready to enhance coordination on regional and international issues as well as cooperation in law enforcement and security between the two countries. Tajikistan will give full support to China to well perform its duty as the rotating presidency of the SCO.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly signed and issued the Joint Statement on Establishing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan, and witnessed the signing of more than ten cooperation documents, including the China-Tajikistan Cooperation Action Plan, and agreements on science, technology, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, human resources, locality and media.
Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Emomali Rahmon at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee Wang Huning, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Li Zhanshu, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress Qiangba Puncog, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Lin Wenyi and others were present.