Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday called on China and Tajikistan to strive for new progress in the China-Tajikistan comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era during his first strategic dialogue with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, The Caspian Post informs via Xinhua.
The two sides held in-depth discussions on implementing the consensus reached between the two heads of state and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, reached a broad agreement and jointly launched the China-Tajikistan foreign ministers' strategic dialogue mechanism.
Noting that China and Tajikistan are good friends and good partners connected by mountains and rivers, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, China-Tajikistan relations have continuously reached new heights.
The two heads of state met twice this year and made new plans for the development of bilateral relations, he noted.
China stands ready to work with Tajikistan to follow the consensus of the two leaders, view and promote bilateral relations from a strategic perspective, carry forward everlasting friendship and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Wang said.
Wang briefed Muhriddin on the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, noting that the scientific formulation and steady implementation of five-year plans are important experience of the CPC in state governance and a major political advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
China will, as always, support Tajikistan in following a development path suited to its national conditions and in taking effective measures to safeguard national security and development, and opposes any external interference in Tajikistan's internal affairs.
No matter how the international situation evolves, China will remain Tajikistan's trustworthy and reliable partner, said Wang, expressing appreciation for Tajikistan's firm support on issues concerning China's core interests, including the Taiwan question.
China will never allow right-wing forces in Japan to turn back the wheel of history, nor permit external forces to meddle in China's Taiwan region or allow Japanese militarism to stage a comeback, said Wang, vowing that China will work with all parties to uphold the international consensus on the one-China principle and jointly safeguard the hard-won outcomes of the victory of World War II.
Wang pointed out that the two sides should continue expanding trade and investment and give full play to mechanisms such as the China-Tajikistan intergovernmental economic and trade committee. China is willing to increase its imports of quality agricultural products from Tajikistan and encourages capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Tajikistan, he said.
Wang also urged the two sides to make full use of various platforms, including Confucius Institutes, Luban Workshops and others, and accelerate the establishment of cultural centers in each other's country. The two sides should energize local cooperation, enhance sister-city exchanges, and pool more strength for deepening China-Tajikistan friendship, he said.
Noting that China and Tajikistan are strategic partners that share both security and risks, Wang said that the two sides should jointly address various challenges, implement the memorandum of understanding on jointly promoting cooperation on the Global Security Initiative, carry out solid bilateral joint patrols, prevent the infiltration and spread of terrorist forces, and build a strong security shield for the development of both nations.
China supports Tajikistan in playing a greater role in the United Nations and other multilateral platforms, and stands ready to work with Tajikistan to jointly implement the four major global initiatives, uphold the UN-centered international system, and strengthen cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the China-Central Asia mechanism, said Wang.
For his part, Muhriddin said Tajikistan and China are friendly neighbors and sincere friends, as the bilateral relationship has always been grounded in mutual understanding, trust and support. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, Tajikistan-China relations have maintained sound momentum, seeing active cooperation across various areas, he said.
Muhriddin thanked China for its long-standing valuable support for Tajikistan's development, and said his country is willing to work closely with China to fully implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, enhance exchanges at all levels, promote Belt and Road cooperation, deepen cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and green minerals, and expand people-to-people exchanges to better benefit both peoples.
The two ministers also exchanged views on the Afghan issue. Wang said that Afghanistan is a common neighbor of China and Tajikistan, and China is willing to continue to strengthen coordination with Tajikistan on the Afghan issue, with a view to promoting regional peace and stability and reconstruction in the country.
After the talks, the two sides issued the joint statement of the first China-Tajikistan foreign ministers' strategic dialogue.
