Shukurjon Zuhurov, the Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) today met here with Pan Yunhe, the Chairperson of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Foreign Affairs Committee.

According to the Tajik Parliament press office, during the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the current state of bilateral relations, and also discussed the issues of parliamentary cooperation.

Speaking at the meeting, Shukurjon Zuhurov pointed out that China remains the largest trading partner of Tajikistan and the largest foreign investor in Tajikistan’s economy.

Zuhurov reportedly noted that Tajikistan would promote further attraction of Chinese companies to Tajikistan by means of creating favorable investment climate. “In view of this, we are seriously considering prospects of creating a zone of free trade with China,” Zuhurov added.

Zuhurov pointed out that with the joint efforts of both sides, new and important progress has been made in Tajik — Chinese relations recently and he also added that Tajikistan intends to increase its two-way trade with China to $3 billion by 2020.

Tajikistan intends to increase its agricultural exports to China, noted Zuhurov and added that we hope that a protocol on phytosanitary requirements between the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China will be signed in the near future.

It was also noted that Chinese investors have an active participation in the implementation of large projects of strategic importance, especially in the construction of bridges, tunnels, roads, power sector, agriculture and other important facilities.