DUSHANBE, November 21, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Tajik Defense minister Sherali Mirzo held working talks with his China’s State Councilor and Minister of National Defense of China, in Beijing on November 20.

Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan, says the two discussed a broad range of issues related to international and regional security as well as bilateral military and technical cooperation between the two countries.   

 Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of National Defense notes that Chang Wanquan said at the meeting that China and Tajikistan are friendly neighbors with common mountains and rivers, the heads of the two countries have been holding meetings frequently and made long-term planning for the future development of the relations between the two countries.  The cooperation between the two militaries has achieved fruitful results in such fields as high-level mutual visits, joint exercises and training as well as personnel training.

Chang reportedly stressed that the Chinese side is willing to work with the Tajikistani side to earnestly implement the consensuses reached by the heads of the two countries and deepen the pragmatic cooperation between the two militaries, so as to make positive contributions to pushing forward the development of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Mirzo, for his part, said that China is Tajikistan’s most reliable strategic partner, and the Tajik side appreciates the Chinese side’s long-term assistance and support in Tajikistan’s army building and is willing to work with the Chinese side to strengthen the cooperation in various fields and jointly deal with the regional security threats.