Wang Yi says China to counteract unilateral bullying by the U.S. side

China will continue to counteract unilateral bullying by the U.S., not only to defend its own legitimate rights and interests but also to safeguard the shared interests of the international community, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday during a meeting with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin.

The two foreign ministers exchanged views on current tariff issues as they met in Almaty for the Sixth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Wang, also member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, reiterated that China is ready to work with all parties to uphold free trade, oppose protectionism, and defend international fairness and justice.

Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, comprehensive cooperation between China and Tajikistan has continued to yield positive results, Wang pointed out.

China firmly supports Tajikistan in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and resolutely opposes any external interference in Tajikistan's internal affairs, he noted.

China will further consolidate strategic mutual trust with Tajikistan, deepen development synergy, and expand friendly exchanges in support of both countries' modernization and national revitalization, Wang said.

Muhriddin noted that Tajikistan is ready to work closely with China by fully utilizing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, and enhancing cooperation between legislative bodies, local governments, and in cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides should also expand collaboration in trade and investment, connectivity, e-commerce, industrial capacity, green transformation, and the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, he said.

Tajikistan welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country and looks forward to identifying more innovative growth points in cooperation, Muhriddin added.

The two sides also exchanged views on multilateral cooperation and agreed to jointly support the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the China-Central Asia mechanism in playing a greater role. They will strengthen border control and counterterrorism cooperation to safeguard regional security and stability.

Wang noted that China welcomes and supports Tajikistan in playing a more active role in international and regional affairs and supports Tajikistan in hosting the first High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation.

(With input from Xinhua)