President Xi Jinping shakes hands with visiting Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon (L) in Beijing, May 20, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - China and Tajikistan established a strategic partnership on Monday, pledging to boost bilateral cooperation.

The announcement was made during talks held between President Xi Jinping and his visiting Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon, who is visiting China from May 19 to 20.

China and Tajikistan share the need to consolidate cooperation, safeguard common interests and address common challenges, Xi said, adding that China will maintain a friendly policy stance toward Tajikistan.

Xi highlighted the significance of the strategic partnership, which he said will cement cooperation in multiple fields.

He said both sides should step up their mutual support on issues concerning sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.

The two sides should also effectively use cooperation to boost economic growth and intensify coordination on significant international and regional issues, Xi added.

Rakhmon said Tajikistan and China have set an example for other countries by working together as candid and trustful strategic partners, adding that Tajikistan is willing to offer firm support for China on key issues.

Rakhmon expressed hope that the Chinese dream of the renewal of the Chinese nation could be realized at an early date. Rakhmon pledged commitment to maintaining high-level exchanges and cooperation with China.

After the talks, the two heads of state also signed a joint declaration concerning the strategic partnership and witnessed the signing of a series of agreements on cooperation.

According to the declaration, China and Tajikistan will support the development paths chosen by their citizens and support each other's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity as well as measures to maintain social stability, boost economic growth and expand foreign exchanges.

The two countries also agreed to push bilateral economic cooperation forward and accelerate the implementation of aviation and cross-border railway and highway projects.

Both sides will jointly explore mineral, and oil and gas resources and discuss cooperation in power infrastructure, wind and solar energy, the declaration said.

Both sides will carry out agricultural technology cooperation projects and set up a China-Tajikistan agricultural technology demonstration center and agricultural industrial park in Tajikistan to raise the country's capability for grain production.

China and Tajikistan will offer financial support for bilateral trade and cooperation, as well as for Chinese enterprises to invest in Tajikistan and settle bilateral trade in their own currencies.

The two nations also pledged to expand cooperation among law enforcement and judicial departments and jointly crack down on terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as drug-related crimes and new threats and challenges.

Both sides decided to boost cooperation in the fields of culture, education, tourism, health and sports. China welcomes Tajik students to study in the country and the Tajik side welcomes more Confucius Institutes to be established in Tajikistan.

The significant role played by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in promoting regional peace and development was emphasized in the declaration. The two countries will work with other SCO member countries to ensure the success of the SCO summit to be held in Bishkek later this year.

China will offer full support for Tajikistan after the country assumes the SCO rotating presidency following the Bishkek summit, the declaration added.

Both sides also pledged to enhance cooperation under the multi-lateral frameworks including the United Nations to jointly cope with global and regional challenges so as to promote world and regional peace, security and development.