Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon agreed to jointly maintain regional peace and stability and strengthen communication and coordination in multiple issues, including the Afghanistan situation, as the two met in Dushanbe on Thursday.

Rahmon thanked China for its great support to Tajikistan's economy and national security as well as the country's fight against COVID-19.

Tajikistan is ready to deepen pragmatic cooperation and push forward the bilateral ties with China, Rahmon vowed.

Tajikistan hosts the presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Rahmon also expressed his appreciation for China's support and vowed to enhance communication with China so as to jointly safeguard the regional peace and stability.

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Wang, for his part, hailed the bilateral ties featuring win-win cooperation with the Tajik side.

Noting that the two countries should take the lead in building a community of development and security, Wang said that no matter how the international situation changes, China and Tajikistan, as ironclad partners, will always stand together.

China will continue offering vaccines and medical supplies to the Tajik side, Wang pledged, reassuring the president of China's full support for the country in the fight against the virus.

Wang also extended China's confidence in the successful hosting of the upcoming SCO summit under Rahmon's leadership, and noted that China is ready to play a constructive role to ensure it.

The Chinese foreign minister echoed Rahmon's words and stressed that the country will jointly defend common interests as well as regional stability with Tajikistan.

The 21st meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and a joint summit of the leaders of the SCO and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states on the Afghanistan issue is being held in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe on Thursday and Friday. During which, leaders of the SCO are expected to exchange views on the Afghanistan issue via video link, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Thursday.

(Cover: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, September 16, 2021. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)