China, Tajikistan pledge economic cooperation

China will enhance its cooperation with Tajikistan in energy, transportation and agriculture and expedite the construction of China-Central Asia Gas Pipelines, Premier Li Keqiang said Saturday.[Special coverage]

The bilateral relationship has reached an unprecedented level, Li told Emomali Rahmon, president of Tajikistan, who is in Beijing for a dialogue on strengthening connectivity.

Li said China has quality and cost advantages in railway construction and hoped Tajikistan can use Chinese standards and work with China to promote railway construction in the country.

Li said China is ready to cooperate with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries, including Tajikistan, to strengthen cooperation in connectivity, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation and work together for regional safety, stability and prosperity.

Rahmon said Tajikistan will actively participate in building the Silk Road Economic Belt, promote cooperation projects in energy, transportation and agriculture, better construct the Central Asia-China Gas Pipelines and strengthen bilateral coordination within the SCO framework to achieve new progress in the China-Tajikistan strategic partnership.