China stands ready to develop the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era with Tajikistan, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.

Xi made the remarks during his talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, expressing his delight to once again meet his old friend President Rahmon.

Five years after the last visit, Xi said he saw an even more prosperous Tajikistan this time.

As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner, China is truly pleased about this, said Xi, expressing his confidence that under Rahmon's leadership, Tajikistan will surely meet the various national development goals it has set forth.

A higher starting point

Building a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future featuring everlasting friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit is a political decision made jointly by the two presidents. It conforms with the trend of the times, and with the common interests of the two countries and peoples, said Xi.

Under the new circumstances, China is ready to work with Tajikistan to develop a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, and to build the China-Tajikistan community with a shared future from a higher starting point, he said.

China firmly opposes interference in Tajikistan's internal affairs under any excuse by any external force. No matter how the international landscape changes, China will always be a trustworthy friend, a reliable partner and a close brother of Tajikistan, Xi said.

In the talks, Rahmon hailed China and Tajikistan as friendly neighbors and loyal friends.

Noting that the relationship between Tajikistan and China can be regarded as a model for state-to-state relations, Rahmon said strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with China in the new era is a priority policy direction for Tajikistan.

Since the beginning of the new era, under the visionary and wise leadership of President Xi, China has made great developmental achievements, which have not only benefited the Chinese people, but also made important contributions to regional and world peace and development, he said.

Rahmon reiterated that the Tajik side firmly abides by the one-China principle, opposes any form of "Taiwan independence," and firmly supports all efforts made by China in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity and realizing national reunification.

Synergy of development strategies

China is willing to exchange and share development experiences and opportunities with Tajikistan while advancing the synergy of their development strategies, Xi told Rahmon on Friday.

Xi noted that China stands ready to jointly promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Tajikistan.

China is also willing to work with Tajikistan to upgrade the quality and scale of economic and trade cooperation, optimize connectivity cooperation, deepen agricultural cooperation, expand cooperation in critical mineral resources as well as in such fields as new energy, digital economy, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and help Tajikistan develop a modern industrial system, Xi added.

Noting that China will remain steadfast in promoting friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with Tajikistan, Xi said China will firmly support Tajikistan in following a development path that suits its national conditions, firmly support the efforts of Tajikistan to safeguard its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly support the various political arrangements and development measures in Tajikistan put forth by President Rahmon.

For his part, Rahmon said that under the strategic guidance of the two leaders, bilateral relations have maintained sound development in recent years, achieving positive outcomes in various fields of cooperation and maintaining high-level communication and collaboration in multilateral institutions.

Tajikistan is willing to take the implementation of the outcomes of Xi's visit as an important opportunity to further promote Belt and Road cooperation, deepen cooperation in connectivity, agriculture, critical minerals, new energy and other fields, so as to accelerate the country's industrialization and modernization, Rahmon said.

A joint initiative

The China-Central Asia mechanism is a joint initiative of the six countries, Xi noted, adding China stands ready to work with Tajikistan and other relevant parties to continuously make the China-Central Asia mechanism better and stronger, and push for more tangible results in China-Central Asia cooperation.

Both as developing countries, China and Tajikistan should work together with other Global South countries to strengthen solidarity and coordination, practice true multilateralism, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

For his part, Rahmon said that in the face of the volatile international and regional situations, Tajikistan firmly supports and stands ready to actively implement the series of global initiatives put forward by President Xi, closely coordinate and collaborate within multilateral frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the China-Central Asia mechanism and the United Nations, firmly support each other, practice true multilateralism, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice and the common interests of developing countries.

(With input from Xinhua)