On the afternoon of May 12, President Xi Jinping held talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who was on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi Jinping congratulated Tajikistan on its 35th anniversary of independence and its significant achievements in national development. Xi pointed out that mutual and unwavering support is the core essence of China-Tajikistan relations. No matter how the external environment changes, China and Tajikistan will always be good neighbors who help each other, good friends who are sincere and trusting, and good partners who work together for development. The signing of the Treaty of Permanent Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between China and Tajikistan will fully demonstrate the high level of political mutual trust between the two countries and provide a solid guarantee for the enduring friendship between China and Tajikistan. China is willing to work with Tajikistan to promote the building of a closer China-Tajikistan community with a shared future, so as to better benefit the people of both countries.
Xi Jinping emphasized that China will, as always, support Tajikistan in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions and support Tajikistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty, and security. This year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, and Tajikistan is also making every effort to advance its "National Development Strategy until 2030." Both sides should take the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative as the main theme, deeply align their development strategies, and contribute to their respective development goals. We must consolidate the positive momentum of economic and trade cooperation, tap into cooperation potential, and simultaneously improve the scale and quality of trade and investment; we must ensure the implementation of key projects, expand cooperation in green energy, digital economy, smart cities, artificial intelligence, and other fields, and enhance the driving force of technological innovation; we must deepen people-to-people exchanges, create new paradigms of local cooperation, and promote mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples; we must strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation, resolutely combat the "three evil forces," and jointly safeguard regional stability. China welcomes Tajikistan's accession to the International Court of Mediation and is willing to strengthen cooperation within the frameworks of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the China-Central Asia Mechanism, practice genuine multilateralism, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system.
Rahmon stated that the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Tajikistan and China in the new era is continuously deepening and developing, with fruitful cooperation in trade, investment, transportation, agriculture, and other fields. Major projects are progressing smoothly, and people-to-people exchanges are becoming increasingly close, bringing benefits to the people of both countries. The signing of the Treaty of Permanent Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between Tajikistan and China today marks a new historical stage in bilateral relations and will open up new prospects for long-term cooperation. Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, and Tajikistan firmly adheres to the one-China principle. Tajikistan looks forward to strengthening practical cooperation with China in key minerals, artificial intelligence, and technological innovation, facilitating people-to-people exchanges, strengthening educational exchanges, and promoting greater development of bilateral relations. President Xi Jinping's global governance initiative is of great significance to the world. Tajikistan highly appreciates China's unremitting efforts to politically resolve international hotspots and its important role in easing tensions in the Middle East. Tajikistan is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with China to jointly combat the "three evil forces" (terrorism, separatism, and extremism) and transnational crime, and maintain regional stability.
Following the talks, the two heads of state signed and issued the "Treaty of Perpetual Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan" and the "Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership for a New Era," and witnessed the signing of more than ten cooperation documents in areas such as party exchanges, trade and investment, artificial intelligence, green mining, and media.
During the visit, the two sides also signed more than ten cooperation documents in areas such as agriculture, culture, education, housing construction, inspection and quarantine, and market supervision.
Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Rahmon at the East Gate Square of the Great Hall of the People.
Upon Rahmon's arrival, honor guards stood in salute. The two heads of state ascended the reviewing stand, and the military band played the national anthems of China and Tajikistan, while a 21-gun salute was fired from Tiananmen Square. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Rahmon reviewed the guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and watched the parade.
Reprinted from Xinhua News Agency