Tajikistan appreciates China's great support for Tajikistan in combating the pandemic and reviving the economy.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, President Emomali Rahmon made the remark in a telephone conversation with China’s President Xi Jinping on June 16.

The two sides reportedly discussed state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between their countries.

Rahmon and Xi underlined the importance of continuation of joint efforts to expand collaboration between the two countries, implement previous agreements as well as seek new models of cooperation between Tajikistan and China.

They also discussed issues related to expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in areas such as medicine, pharmaceutics, new technologies and innovations.    

Joint fight against COVID-19 pandemic was the specific subject of the conversation, the Tajik president’s official website said.  

Emomali Rahmon expressed gratitude to the Chinese side for support provided to Tajikistan during pandemic.

Chinese leader, for his part, highly appraised actions and decisions of the Tajik government on prevention of spreading of the infection, according to the Tajik president’s official website said.

Meanwhile, Chinese media reports say Xi called for joint efforts with Tajikistan to implement key Belt and Road projects

China and Tajikistan should coordinate efforts to contain the COVID-19 epidemic and promote bilateral trade, and be open to new ideas to ensure the implementation of key projects in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, Chinese President Xi Jinping said.  

For his part, Rahmon said that his country is willing to deepen friendship and mutual trust with China, help each other, and further align Tajikistan's national development strategy for the period up to 2030 with the joint construction of the Belt and Road, according to Xinhua.