Top legislator Wu Bangguo on Wednesday said China would work with Tajikistan to lift bilateral relations to new heights.

Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), meets with Makhmadsaid Ubaiduloev, speaker of the Upper House of Tajikistan's Supreme Assembly, in Beijing December 3, 2008. [Xinhua]

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, made the remarks when meeting with visiting Makhmadsaid Ubaiduloev, Tajik Upper House Speaker.

Hailing the stable and healthy growth of bilateral relations since forging diplomatic ties 16 years ago, Wu said China was satisfied with the increasing mutual trust in politics between the two nations.

The cooperation in economic, trade and security areas played an important role in the development of China-Tajikistan relations, Wu said. He expressed the hope that both nations would increase pragmatic cooperation in mining and agriculture, and strengthen consultations in anti-drug work and combating terrorist forces of "East Turkistan".

Wu also applauded Tajikistan's firm support to China on the issues of Taiwan, Tibet and fighting against "East Turkistan".

Ubaiduloev said his country, as a friendly neighbor of China, was proud of China's remarkable economic achievements and social progress.

Tajikistan valued relations with China and would learn from China's successes, Ubaiduloev said. He expressed the hope that the two nations would expand exchanges and cooperation and take their traditional friendly relations to a new level.

Wu and Ubaiduloev expressed satisfaction over achievements in parliamentary exchanges.

They agreed to deepen cooperation, increase communications on major sensitive issues and strengthen consultations in multilateral forums such as the parliamentary leaders' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

They also hoped that legislatures in both nations would expand personnel exchanges and offer timely approval for legal documents concerning China-Tajikistan cooperation.

Ubaiduloev came to China on an official visit that runs from December 1 to 6 at Wu's invitation.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2008)