On Thursday September 10, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin met in Moscow with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM).

According to the Tajik MFA information department, the two discussed the progress of implementation of agreements reached during the recent telephone conversation of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon with China President Xi Jinping.

They reportedly also exchanged views on state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and China in energy, industrial and agricultural sectors.  

Muhriddin and Xi agreed to expand cooperation on mitigating socioeconomic effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Tajik MFA information department. 

Meanwhile China’s Xinhua news agency notes that Wang said that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, bilateral relations have entered a new stage and have broad prospects for development.

As a comprehensive strategic partner of Tajikistan, China strongly supports Tajikistan in following a development path that suits its national conditions, safeguarding its sovereignty and security, as well as developing and revitalizing its economy, and firmly opposes any interference in Tajikistan's internal affairs by external forces, Wang said, adding that on the international stage, the two countries should continue to support each other and safeguard their common interests.

Wang stressed that after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, China and Tajikistan have fought against the coronavirus pandemic with solidarity to overcome the difficulties together, and made significant achievements respectively.

On the premise of ensuring epidemic prevention and control, the two sides should steadily advance the smooth implementation of the joint construction of the Belt and Road projects, Chinese foreign minister added, according to Xinhua. 

Focusing on the post-pandemic era, the two countries should map out cooperation in key areas at an early date, Wang said, urging the two sides to leverage the role of the joint prevention and control mechanism in the border areas, and enhance cargo handling capacity via border ports during the pandemic.

For his part, Muhriddin reportedly said the Tajik side speaks highly of the high level of mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation results between the two countries, thanks China for its anti-virus assistance to Tajikistan, and appreciates China's willingness to make COVID-19 vaccines a global public good.

The Tajik side firmly supports the one-China principle and opposes any force's attacks and smears of China under the guise of human rights, Muhriddin said, adding his country will continue to stand firmly with China.

Noting it is important that the foreign ministers' meeting mechanism between five Central Asian countries and China has been launched, he voiced Tajikistan's readiness to work with all parties to implement the outcomes of the first meeting, and push for the joint construction of the Belt and Road and cooperation in other fields.