Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who is in Tajikistan for an official visit, held talks with Tajik Prime Minister Akil Akilov in Dushanbe, Sept. 15, 2006. This is the first official meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries. Both sides exchanged in-depth views and reached wide-range consensus on how to strengthen the good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two countries and on how to deepen cooperation in economy, trade and other fields.

Since China and Tajikistan forged diplomatic ties on January 4, 1992, their good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation have been developing steadily. The two sides have kept close cooperation in the areas of politics, economy and trade, and within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Tajikistan supports China's position on Taiwan, combating "East Turkistan" terrorists and other questions.

During the talks, Wen said China and Tajikistan have enjoyed high-level mutual political trust, completely resolved the border issue, given support to each other on major issues related to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, scored remarkable achievements on pragmatic cooperation in all areas and maintained close cooperation in international and regional organizations such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. These achievements are valuable treasures of both sides.

Akilov said that China is a good neighbor and partner of Tajikistan and that the two sides show mutual respect and high-level trust. The establishment of friendly ties with China is one of the major achievements Tajikistan has made since independence, Akilov said. He added that it is a priority of Tajikistan's foreign policy to maintain and consolidate relations with China.

The two leaders also discussed priority areas of future cooperation. They agreed to negotiate and sign as early as possible China-Tajikistan good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation treaty, which will lay a solid legal foundation for the development of a long-term and stable relationship between the two countries.

The current trade scale, though relatively small, has a strong momentum for further growth. In their talks, Wen and Akilov agreed to take measures to expand trade scale and diversify trade approaches and mix. They called on the two countries to promote cooperation in mineral resources exploitation and infrastructure construction and enhance quality of economic and technological cooperation. They suggested both sides give play to the functioning of the government and well implement projects the two sides have agreed upon on China's assistance and loans. The two leaders also vowed to improve trade, investment and legal basis to create favorable conditions for companies to do business.

The two leaders agreed to increase people-to-people contact and promote youth exchanges to build up mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement and security, conduct joint operations against drug smugglers and terrorists and severely combat the "three forces" including the "East Turkistan" separatists.

Akilov reaffirmed Tajikistan's one-China policy and its support to China's cause of national reunification, which Wen appreciated.

After their meeting, the two sides attended a signing ceremony of a range of cooperation documents on economy, technology, health, media, communications and combat against drug-related crimes.