China will strengthen business cooperation with Tajikistan through expanding trade and investment, said Vice Premier Wu Yi in Beijing on Tuesday.

 

Wu made the remarks when addressing a business and investment forum between China and Tajikistan. Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov also attended.

 

Wu said the two sides should strengthen cooperation in resources development and increase trade in high-technology and high value-added goods.

 

She also called on the two countries to create open, transparent and secure conditions for bilateral investment and favorable conditions for communication and exchanges between companies.

 

Rakhmonov said Tajikistan would give priority to cooperation in such areas as hydro-electricity generation, the mineral industry, raw materials processing and tourism.

 

Tajikistan would undertake to create conditions for Chinese companies to invest there and work with China to push forward the bilateral trade, he said.

 

The two countries have carried out nearly 50 economic cooperation projects in Tajikistan. Bilateral trade saw a nineteen-fold increase in the last five years.

 

Rakhmonov is paying a seven-day state visit to China at the invitation of President Hu Jintao. The two countries on Monday signed a treaty on friendship and cooperation, agreeing to push bilateral relations to higher levels.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2007)