Tajikistan opposes internationalization of S. China Sea issue

TASHKENT - Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said Thursday that his country backs China's peaceful reunification, fully understands and firmly supports China's position on the South China Sea issue, and opposes any attempt to internationalize it.

Rahmon said this when meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Xi said the two countries maintain high-level contacts and have made progress in efforts to implement the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi also advised to steadily promote cooperation between the two nations under the initiative, and suggested further cooperation in such areas as agriculture, infrastructure, emergency relief, people-to-people exchanges, anti-terrorism, drug prohibition, cybersecurity, and combating organized cross-border crimes.

The Chinese president also considered the SCO as an important contributor to regional peace and stability, and common development.

China, along with other SCO member countries, would stick to the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of shared development, in an effort to make the regional organization contribute more to the stability and development of member states, Xi added.

Rahmon spoke highly of Tajikistan's economic cooperation with China, saying major cooperation projects between the two nations are key to Tajikistan's national development and regional economic growth.

He said his country is actively involved in China's Belt and Road Initiative and seeks close cooperation with China in various fields including infrastructure, electricity, agriculture, culture and security.

Xi arrived in Uzbekistan on Tuesday for a state visit, the second in three years. He will also attend a two-day SCO summit here on Thursday and Friday.

The Central Asian country is the final stop of Xi's current three-nation tour, which has taken him to Serbia and Poland.

Founded in 2001, the SCO now has China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as its full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as observers, and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey as dialogue partners.