DUSHANBE, 31.08.2017 /NIAT “Khovar”/. Today, the state visit of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon began with the official welcoming ceremony in Tiananmen Square of Beijing.

The distinguished guest, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon was met by the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, who invited him to the tribune of honor.

The official welcoming ceremony continued with the lining up of units and subdivisions of honor guard, the performance of the national anthems of the two countries, the passing of heads of state before the lined-up officers and soldiers, paying homage to the national flag of the People’s Republic of China and introduction of heads of states with official delegations of the two sides. According to the procedures of the official meeting, a salute of 21 guns was fired in honor of the distinguished guest.

Discussing of issues of cooperation between the two countries began in a narrow format of the meeting of the heads of state, and then continued at top-level talks with the participation of official delegations of Tajikistan and China.

The Head of State Emomali Rahmon thanked the Leader of the People’s Republic of China for the invitation to make a state visit and named this country as a close neighbor and reliable partner of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the level and quality of political, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations between Tajikistan and China for the 25 years of establishment of diplomatic relations, emphasized their readiness for the successful continuation of bilateral and multilateral relations at all levels and stages.

Long-term cooperation and constant ties between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, as well as entrepreneurs and business circles of the two states were assessed as the basis for the development and strengthening of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest.

The parties expressed special interest in the greater development and expansion of trade and economic cooperation within the framework of the historic initiative “One Belt, One Road”.

It was noted that the direct investments of the People’s Republic of China have not yet been used by Tajikistan’s existing capabilities, including a rich hydropower potential, which requires enhanced cooperation in the areas of finance and banking system.

Tajikistan is interested in the active participation of the Chinese side in the implementation of projects for the construction of medium-capacity hydroelectric power plants, — emphasized the Head of State Emomali Rahmon, and added that in our country for the implementation of these projects have been created favorable investment conditions. The sides elaborated constructive ideas and proposals on the strengthening of interstate relations in the direction of reconstruction of Tajikistan’s hydropower capacities, in the transport and transit sector, including the construction of the regional railway China-Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran, which will be able to revive the southern branch of the “Great Silk Road”.

The Tajik side particularly emphasized the great potential of the country in establishing effective cooperation with China in the construction and reconstruction of aluminum production plants, the import of modern machinery and technologies from China and the export of fruits and vegetables to China. In order to improve relations in the areas of mutual interest, the parties considered it necessary to intensify the work of the Intergovernmental Commission of the Republic of Tajikistan and the People’s Republic of China on Trade and Economic Cooperation and relevant subcommissions between Tajikistan and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The meeting also discussed issues related to the development and expansion of interaction between Tajikistan and China in the spheres of production of building materials, processing of cotton fiber and mining — metallurgical minerals, and agreed to improve bilateral relations in the areas of health, education and culture.

Another central theme of the top-level meetings and talks between Tajikistan and China was broad interaction on a bilateral basis and within the framework of regional and international organizations to ensure universal security and stability in the region, to promote the improving of the military-political situation in Afghanistan, the fight against international terrorism and extremism, separatism, smuggling of narcotic substances and other organized transnational crimes.

At the conclusion of the top-level intergovernmental talks, the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon invited the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to visit Tajikistan at his convenience.

Then, following the results of top-level meetings and talks in the presence and with the participation of the heads of states Emomali Rahmon and Xi Jinping 13 new cooperation documents were signed:

Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Tajikistan and the People’s Republic of China;

Program on cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the People’s Republic of China;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China on Joint Promotion of the Construction of an Exemplary Park for Agricultural Cooperation;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Trade of the People’s Republic of China on the Development of Cooperation in the field of Human Resources;

Agreement between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Trade of the People’s Republic of China on Strengthening Cooperation in the field of Infrastructure;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Accounts Chamber of the Republic of Tajikistan and the National Audit Office of the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation in Auditing in the Public Sector;

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Technical and Economic Cooperation for the Provision of Non-Repayable Assistance;

Framework Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Granting a Soft Loan (for the construction of a 500kV power transmission line in the districts of the republican subordination);

Memorandum of Understanding between the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China on the Establishment of the Commission of Tajikistan and China on Scientific and Technical Cooperation;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation in the field of Intellectual Property;

Memorandum on Cooperation between the National Information Agency of Tajikistan “Khovar” and the Information Agency of China “Xinhua”;

Agreement on the establishment of fraternal relations between the Khatlon province of the Republic of Tajikistan and the province of Shanxi of the People’s Republic of China;

Protocol on the propensity to establish sister cities relations between the city of Khujand of Sughd province of the Republic of Tajikistan and the city of Taiyuan of Shanxi province of the People’s Republic of China.

We will recall that to date the normative-legal acts on bilateral cooperation consisted of about 200 acts and they covered important areas.