On the afternoon of January 15, 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmonov at the Great Hall of the People. The two heads of state highly evaluated the achievements of bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations 15 years ago, agreeing to seriously implement the treaty on good-neighborly friendship and cooperation and other important cooperation documents and push such ties to a higher level.

Hu said since the establishment of diplomatic ties 15 years ago, bilateral relations have been developing steadily and continuously and achieved noticeable results. The leaders of the two countries have kept close exchanges, and deepened mutual understanding and friendship, said Hu, adding that both sides have completely resolved the border issue left over from history. The two countries have witnessed rapidly growing trade cooperation with the trade volume increasing continuously and conducted cultural, educational and security cooperation in an all-round manner, Hu said. They have also maintained sound coordination and cooperation in the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other multilateral frameworks, as well as on major issues of mutual concern, Hu added.

Rakhmonov said since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the political relations, economic and trade cooperation and humanities contacts between the two countries have all reached an unprecedented high level and the two countries have become trustable cooperative partners. The Tajik side will continue to adhere to the one-China policy and support China's grand cause of peaceful reunification, he said.

During the talks, Hu said both sides are close friendly neighbors and the Chinese side will join hands with the Tajik side in advancing bilateral long-term, steady relations of good-neighborly friendship and cooperation from the following five aspects. The first is to keep bilateral high-level exchanges and other contacts at various levels to further their political ties, continue mutual support on principled issues concerning their major interests, and conduct close cooperation in completing the demarcation work on time so as to make their border a bridge and link for friendship for generations between the two peoples. The second is to expand reciprocal cooperation for common development, optimize trade mix, diversify trade forms and promote a balanced development of trade between both sides. Both sides should strengthen cooperation in such key areas as transportation, electric power, communications, mineral resources development, agriculture and border trade, and well implement large cooperation projects. Both sides should also improve the legal basis for bilateral trade and investment so as to create a sound policy and legal environment for businesses to invest and develop in each other. The third is to strengthen security cooperation and jointly prevent and combat the "three forces" and cross-border crimes in a bid to safeguard peace, stability and security in the two countries and in the region at large. The fourth is to expand humanities exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and traditional friendship. Both sides can deepen bilateral cultural and educational cooperation in various forms. China is ready to cooperate with Tajikistan to well hold a series of activities to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The fifth is to strengthen consultations and coordination on major international and regional issues including that within multi-lateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to contribute to lasting peace and common prosperity in this region and the world at large.

Agreeing with Hu, Rakhmonov said bilateral ties enjoy a sound momentum of development and the two countries are highly complementary in economy and thus have broad prospect for cooperation. The Tajik side is full of confidence in the future development of bilateral relations, and is ready to further enhance bilateral political relations, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in economy, trade, finance, mineral resources and power, and deepen friendly exchanges in culture and education, by signing and implementing of the treaty on good-neighborly friendship and cooperation. He said the Tajik side will strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Chinese side in international and regional affairs and firmly fulfill its obligations to combat the "three forces".

Following the talks, the two heads of state signed the treaty on good-neighborly friendship and cooperation between the two countries and attended a signing ceremony of the agreement on economic and technological cooperation and other documents between the two countries.

Prior to the talks, Hu held a welcoming ceremony for Rakhmonov's China visit at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Han Qide, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Zhou Tienong, Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Wu Guozhen, Chairman of the State Development and Reform Commission Ma Kai, Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai, Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan Li Huilai and other officials attended the ceremony.