Chinese, Tajik presidents agree to accelerate gas pipeline construction

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon met here Thursday and agreed to accelerate the construction of Line D of the China-Central Asia gas pipeline. Recalling that the two countries established a strategic partnership during Rakhmon's visit to China in May, Xi urged both countries to continue to be each other's good neighbors, good friends and good partners. The two countries should work together to safeguard security, stability and promote cooperation in the border areas, strengthen mutual trust and support each other on core-interest issues, and expand win-win cooperation to bring more benefits to the two peoples, said Xi. The Chinese president hoped both sides will launch the construction of Line D of the China-Central Asia gas pipeline as soon as possible, expand cooperation in such fields as mineral resources exploitation, agriculture and transport infrastructure, and make new breakthroughs in relevant cooperation projects. Moreover, the two countries' defense and law-enforcement agencies should push forward cooperation in counter-terrorism, drug control and border defense, said Xi. Both countries, Xi added, should strengthen cooperation under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to achieve long-term stability and common development and prosperity in the region. Rakhmon, for his part, said Tajikistan has great expectations for future relations with China. Tajikistan will sincerely work with China on the gas pipeline construction, which bears great significance for boosting the Tajik economy, Rakhmon said. The Tajik president also wished for an early signing of a long-term economic and trade cooperation agreement to boost bilateral trade. Meanwhile, the two countries should jointly combat the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism and maintain common peace and development, he said, adding that his country is ready to enhance coordination with China within the framework of the SCO. The two presidents also exchanged views on Afghanistan and presided over the signing of an agreement on the construction and operation of the natural gas pipeline. Both Xi and Rakhmon are in Bishkek for the 13th meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the SCO slated for Friday. Enditem