DUSHANBE , June 19, Asia-Plus -- China allots more than 603.9 million U.S. dollars in long-term loans million to Tajikistan for implementing three projects in Tajikistan : two in the field of energy (construction of high-voltage electricity lines) and one in the field of transportation, according to information from presidential press service.  

According to the source, agreements on these projects were signed in Shanghai on June 14 on the results of meeting of President Rahmonov with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao.  Rahmonov met with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of his visit to China [on June 14-15] to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).  

Thus, Tajik Ministry of Transport and China ’s Corporation “China Round” signed an agreement on rehabilitation of the road linking Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak).  The estimated budget for the implementation of this project is nearly US$296 million.  Of this amount, US$281.2 million are provided by China in loans.  This project designed for two years includes full rehabilitation of some sections of the road and bridges as well the construction of the Shahriston tunnel in the Sughd province.    

Tajikistan ’s Ministry of Finance and China ’s Exim (Export/Import) Bank singed an agreement on the construction of a 500-kilovolt 350-km power-transmission line “South-North” linking Tajikistan ''s southern and northern regions.  The project costs more than 281 million U.S. dollars and supposed to be implemented within three years.  China allots more than US$267 million in loans for implementing this project.  The source says this project should be implemented before Sangtuda-1 and Sangtuda-2 power stations on the Vakhsh River are put into operation.  The electric main will be capable to transmit up to 8 billion kWh of electricity a year, according to the source.

The “Barqi Tojik” (Tajik electric systems) open joint-stock holding company and China Theban Electric Apparatus Stock Co (TBEA) signed an agreement on the construction of a 220-kilovolt 90-kilometer power-transition line “Lolazor-Obimazor” in the Tajik southern province of Khatlon .  The estimated budget for the construction of the line is about US$60 million.  China allots US$56 million in loans for implementing this project.  The project is designed for 2? years and this electricity line will have a capacity of transmitting nearly 4 billion kWh of electricity power a year.  This electric main will allow Tajikistan to resolve energy problems facing the Khatlon province and to export electricity to Afghanistan , the source said.  

A total cost of all three projects is about US$640 million, and the Tajik government will provide about 36 million U.S. dollars for implementing these projects.    

On the meeting of Rahmonov with Hu Jintao, the source says that in the course of the talks the two discussed a wide range of issues relating to mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and China .  They, in particular, discussed a state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of economy, trade, transportation, telecommunications and business projects.  Rahmonov and Hu Jintao also discussed issues related to addressing modern challenges and threats. 

The Tajik president stressed that Tajikistan came out for signing with China an agreement on friendship, cooperation and neighborly relationships as soon as possible.  Rahmonov also proposed to the Chinese side to consider the issue of building a railway that would link China and Afghanistan via Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan , according to the source.