DUSHANBE, May 20, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- On Monday May 20, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the Tajik president’s official website reports.

President Rahmon reportedly noted that Tajikistan attached significance to its cooperation with China.  Tajik leader offered to adopt a program of cooperation between Tajikistan and China for 2014-2019.

The sides pointed to the necessity of launching a direct air communication between Dushanbe and Beijing, the source said.

Meanwhile, Xinhua reports that China and Tajikistan established a strategic partnership on Monday, pledging to boost bilateral cooperation.

“China and Tajikistan share the need to consolidate cooperation, safeguard common interests and address common challenges,” Chinese President Xi said, adding that China will maintain a friendly policy stance toward Tajikistan.

Xi highlighted the significance of the strategic partnership, which he said will cement cooperation in multiple fields.  He said both sides should step up their mutual support on issues concerning sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.

The two sides should also effectively use cooperation to boost economic growth and intensify coordination on significant international and regional issues, Chinese leader added.

Rahmon said Tajikistan and China have set an example for other countries by working together as candid and trustful strategic partners, adding that Tajikistan is willing to offer firm support for China on key issues, Xinhua reports.

Rahmon reportedly expressed hope that the Chinese dream of the renewal of the Chinese nation could be realized at an early date.  Rahmon pledged commitment to maintaining high-level exchanges and cooperation with China.

After the talks, the two heads of state also signed a joint declaration concerning the strategic partnership and witnessed the signing of a series of agreements on cooperation.

According to the declaration, China and Tajikistan will support the development paths chosen by their citizens and support each other''s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity as well as measures to maintain social stability, boost economic growth and expand foreign exchanges.

The two countries also agreed to push bilateral economic cooperation forward and accelerate the implementation of aviation and cross-border railway and highway projects.

Both sides will jointly explore mineral, and oil and gas resources and discuss cooperation in power infrastructure, wind and solar energy, the declaration said.

Both sides will carry out agricultural technology cooperation projects and set up a China-Tajikistan agricultural technology demonstration center and agricultural industrial park in Tajikistan to raise the country''s capability for grain production.

China and Tajikistan will offer financial support for bilateral trade and cooperation, as well as for Chinese enterprises to invest in Tajikistan and settle bilateral trade in their own currencies.

The two nations also pledged to expand cooperation among law enforcement and judicial departments and jointly crack down on terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as drug-related crimes and new threats and challenges.

Both sides decided to boost cooperation in the fields of culture, education, tourism, health and sports. China welcomes Tajik students to study in the country and the Tajik side welcomes more Confucius Institutes to be established in Tajikistan.

The significant role played by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in promoting regional peace and development was emphasized in the declaration.  The two countries will work with other SCO member countries to ensure the success of the SCO summit to be held in Bishkek later this year.

China will offer full support for Tajikistan after the country assumes the SCO rotating presidency following the Bishkek summit, the declaration added.

Both sides also pledged to enhance cooperation under the multi-lateral frameworks including the United Nations to jointly cope with global and regional challenges so as to promote world and regional peace, security and development.

According to the Tajik president’s website, negotiations between the delegations of the two countries resulted in signing of seven cooperation agreements:

- A government-to-government agreement between Tajikistan and China on economic and technical cooperation.  Under this agreement, China will provide a 200 million yuan (equivalent to 32.2 million USD) grant to Tajikistan;   

- A protocol between the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan and China’s Main Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine on phytosanitary requirements for Tajik fruit exports to China; 

- An agreement between the Committee for Youth Sports and Tourism Affairs of Tajikistan and China’s Main Administration of Sports and Physical Training;

- A loan agreement between Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank) and the China Development Bank (CDB);

- A loan agreement between the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan and the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank) on implementation of the Safe City Project (installation of cameras across Dushanbe for round-the-clock monitoring of movement at all important locations such as crossroads, streets and squares);

- A loan agreement between the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan and the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank) on rehabilitation of a 500 kV substation “Regar” in Tajikistan; 

- A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan and China’s Dong Ying Heli Investment and Development Co., Ltd.