Hu calls for enhancing ties with Russia, Tajikistan
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Chinese President Hu Jintao Thursday called for more efforts to enhance all-round cooperation with Russia and Tajikistan during his separate meetings in Tashkent with presidents of the two countries on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
In his meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Hu said Sino-Russian relations witnessed all-round progress in the first half of this year and several important events will take place in the second half between the two countries, including Medvedev's visit to China and the regular meeting of prime ministers of the two countries.
He called on both countries to further advance economic cooperation, promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges through such important events as the ongoing "Chinese Language Year" activities in Russia, and strengthen strategic communications in accordance with changes in the international system and in major international and regional issues.
He said he was confident that the Sino-Russian relations of strategic cooperation and partnership would achieve new development and reach new level with the joint efforts of both sides.
On the future development of the SCO, he proposed three aspects of work for SCO members to focus on: firstly, to continuously deepen solidarity and mutual trust; secondly, to stick to security and pragmatic cooperation as priorities; and thirdly, to carry out external exchanges and cooperation to boost the organization's international status and influence.
Medvedev pledged to join hands with China to further deepen bilateral ties, expand trade cooperation, boost cultural and humanitarian exchanges and cooperation.
Russia will also make more efforts to promote contacts and coordination in regional and international issues, and maintain coordination under the framework of the SCO to safeguard the peace and stability of the region as well as of the world at large, Medvedev said.
During Hu's meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, the two exchanged views on bilateral relations and other issues of common concern while pledging to further cooperation between the two neighbors.
Hu expressed satisfaction with the healthy and smooth development of bilateral ties in recent years, and proposed that in the next stage, the two countries should set up a mechanism for customs cooperation to simplify customs procedures and support bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
The two countries should also expand cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture and mining and upgrade economic and trade cooperation, Hu said.
Rakhmon said mutual political trust was deepened and friendly cooperation between the two countries made new progress in the past year. Both countries have carried out close cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, transport, science, technology, education and culture.
He said with the assistance of China, Tajikistan had completed a number of major infrastructure projects, including bridges and an electricity transmission line connecting the power grids in the northern and southern parts of the country.
Hu is in Tashkent for a state visit to Uzbekistan and for an annual summit of the SCO. Earlier on Thursday he also met with Chairman of Uzbek Senate Ilgizar Sabirov, when he said inter-parliamentary exchanges have played an important role in advancing the friendly and cooperative partnership between China and Uzbekistan and called for more efforts to enhance such exchanges in the future.
Hu will conclude his visit in Tashkent and fly to Kazakhstan Friday.
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