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The Times of Central Asia (13 June 2019)

As close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers and a lasting bond of friendship between their peoples, China and Tajikistan have "set a fine example of friendship and cooperation between countries different in system, culture and size," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a signed article titled "Working Together for a Brighter Future of China-Tajikistan Friendship," published on June 12 in Tajik media on the eve of his forthcoming visit to the Central Asian country, Xinhua news agency reported.

Since China established diplomatic ties with Tajikistan 27 years ago, the two countries have trusted and respected each other and engaged in cooperation for mutual benefit, Xi said, adding that mutual trust is at the heart of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Tajikistan.

As the Belt and Road cooperation brought a number of signature projects to Tajikistan, China is now the biggest source of investment and a major trading partner for the Central Asian country. "All of these are prime examples of our two countries pursuing shared prosperity on the basis of mutual complementarity," said the Chinese president.

Noting the people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, Xi said, "China-Tajikistan friendship is sure to last from generation to generation."

The Chinese president made several proposals, suggesting the two countries "deepen policy communication and devise master plans for developing China-Tajikistan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective," "refine our blueprint for Belt and Road cooperation," and "forge a stronger people-to-people bond."

Furthermore, "we need to do all we can to deepen cooperation on fighting the three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism as well as transnational organized crime, and on narcotics control and cybersecurity," Xi said, calling the two sides to "strengthen strategic collaboration in international affairs and deepen coordination" under the international frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

From June 14 to 16, Xi will attend the fifth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, and pay a state visit to the country.

https://www.timesca.com/index.php/news/21268-china-tajikistan-friendship-expects-brighter-future-chinese-president