DUSHANBE, January 9, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- A special envoy of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Ms. Chen Zhili, who is Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People''s Congress (NPC), is expected to arrive in Tajikistan on January 11 for a two-day visit, the Tajik MFA information department reports.

The visit to Tajikistan is part of Ms. Chen’s tour of Central Asia’s countries that started on January 5 and will conclude on January 14.

Chinese media outlets report Ms. Chen is attending activities celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the five nations, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.  

The Republic of Tajikistan established diplomatic relations the People’s Republic of China on January 4, 1992.

China’s news agency, Xinhua, reported that Chen Zhili met with Chairman of the Uzbek Senate Ilgizar Sabirov in Tashkent on January 6 to discuss relations between their two countries.  Chen said the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Uzbekistan have developed smoothly since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uzbekistan 20 years ago.

Sabirov, for his part, expressed the belief that Chen''s current visit will contribute to comprehensive deepening of the traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.  He noted that Uzbekistan attaches significant importance to its relations with China, and sees China as a reliable cooperative partner and good friend.

According to Xinhua, Chen also met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov last Friday.