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Jiang's Tajikistan Visit to Boost Bilateral Ties: Diplomat
The friendship between Tajikistan and China combined with China's rising prosperity will ensure the further growth of economic and trade relations between the two neighboring countries, the charge d'affaires of the Tajik embassy to China said Wednesday.
Added to that, Chinese President Jiang Zemin's upcoming visit to Tajikistan will be a "historic event" that will play a positive role in promoting good-neighborliness and mutual understanding, and boost mutually-beneficial cooperation, Shuhrat Saidmuradov said in an interview with Xinhua.
During the visit, the heads of state of the two countries will engage in wide-ranging discussions, including maintaining regional security and stability and defining a strategic partnership between the two countries, he said.
Saidmuradov said that the strengthening of relations with China has been one of top priorities of Tajikistan's foreign policy since the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 1992.
He added that China was the first foreign destination outside the Commonwealth of Independent States by Tajikistan President Emomali Rakhmonov since he became the head of state of Tajikistan.
Since then, President Rakhmonov paid three visits to China, Saidmuradov said, adding that thanks to efforts made by leaders of the two countries, the two sides have had sound cooperation in political, economic, trade, cultural, scientific, technological and energy areas, and a series of documents signed by the two have laid a foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation.
"Tajikistan and China have no disagreements on political issues. They share the same or similar views on many international and regional matters," he said.
He said that China-Tajikistan joint ventures are well-known in Tajikistan, and Tajikistan has created a favorable investment environment for Chinese businessmen in mining, petrochemicals, textile, and processing industries. The two countries are now discussing exploration of natural gas in Tajikistan.
"It is important to take geographic advantages and consider how they complement each other economically, so as to further expand economic and trade exchanges," he said.
However, he said, issues on transportation, banking settlement and information need to be addressed as soon as possible.
Tajikistan thanks China for its help in combating drug and arms trafficking, cross-border crimes, international terrorist organizations and national separatist forces, the diplomat said.
Saidmuradov went on to say that Tajikistan borders northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and they share the same traditions, cultures and religions, adding he hopes that China's strategy to develop the west will make Xinjiang even more prosperous, which in turn would boost border trade and cross-border transportation between the two countries.
Referring to next month's Five-Nation Summit in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, the diplomat said that the five participating countries -- China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan -- will discuss cooperation on combating international terrorism, national separatist forces and religious extremism, and the outcome of their talks will have a profound impact on the region and the Asia-Pacific at the large.
Moreover, Tajikistan, China and Kyrgyzstan will sign a border agreement, he said, adding that from building mutual trust in military fields in border areas, the five countries will extend areas of cooperation to politics, economics, trade, transportation, energy and ecology.
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