On May 17, 2022, Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, held a video meeting with Rustam Emomali, Speaker of the Upper House of the Tajikistan Parliament, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Li Zhanshu said that under the strategic guidance and direct promotion of President Xi Jinping and President Rahmon, the two countries have taken the lead in establishing a development community and a security community. In February 2022, the two heads of state met and reached important consensus on the development of bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, charting the course for the development of China-Tajikistan relations. China is willing to work with Tajikistan to well implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and jointly promote greater development of bilateral relations.

Deepen Belt and Road Cooperation

Li Zhanshu pointed out that unbreakable political mutual trust and firm and strong mutual support are the most valuable experience of China-Tajikistan relations. China appreciates Tajikistan's long-term firm support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns, and will continue to support Tajikistan in taking a development path that suits its national conditions. The two countries should promote mutually beneficial cooperation, high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, actively promote the connection between the joint construction of the Belt and Road and Tajikistan's "National Development Strategy before 2030", strengthen cooperation in industry, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, digital economy and other fields, and deepen unity. Fight the epidemic, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promote friendly exchanges between the people of the two countries, especially the young people. The global security initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is to take the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security as the guide, and to blaze a new security path of dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win rather than zero-sum. The two sides should make joint efforts to further enhance the level of security cooperation and maintain regional security and stability.

Li Zhanshu emphasized that the legislatures of China and Tajikistan have extensive space for exchanges and cooperation in improving legislative functions and serving the development of the country. The National People's Congress of China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with the Tajikistan Parliament, promote exchanges between special committees, friendship groups, NPC deputies and parliamentarians; carry out experience exchanges in areas such as poverty alleviation and poverty alleviation, rural revitalization, agricultural development, etc. Investing in business provides a fair, just, transparent and equal legal environment; strengthens coordination and cooperation on multilateral occasions, and takes care of each other's core interests and major concerns.

Rustam Emomali said that 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and China. The two heads of state played a strategic leading role in promoting the development of Tajikistan-China comprehensive strategic partnership. Tajikistan actively supports the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the two countries have carried out fruitful cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade, people-to-people and cultural engagement, local, security, and fight against COVID-19. The Tajik Parliament is willing to deepen friendly exchanges with China's National People's Congress, and play an active role as a legislative body in promoting the development of bilateral relations and promoting all-round cooperation.

During the meeting, the Chinese side focused on expanding inter-parliamentary ties, developing energy facilities, strengthening production bases for green technologies, especially electric vehicles and solar panels, as well as transportation, logistics, digitization, restoration of air traffic between countries, and production of consumer goods. Transport introduces customs privileges, increases exports of fresh produce, and more. Keywords: Belt and Road News, Engineering News

At the end of the meeting, Rustam Emomali invited Li Zhanshu to pay an official visit to Tajikistan. Li Zhanshu also invited Rustam Emomali to pay an official visit to China at a convenient time.Editor/XingWentao