President Hu Jintao and Tajik President Emomali Sharipovich Rakhmonov agreed in the Kazakh capital of Astana on Tuesday to strengthen coordination within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) so as to increase security and economic cooperation between the two countries.  

In a meeting prior to the opening of the SCO summit, Hu and Rakhmonov agreed the SCO is entering a new phase of development, and that the changing international and regional situation requires the SCO to take practical steps to fulfill its tasks.

The two presidents spoke highly of the new achievements made in the mutually beneficial cooperation and in the smooth development of bilateral relations.

Hu said the relationship between the two nations is developing in a sound way and there is great potential for cooperation.

China stands ready to work together with Tajikistan to push forward bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, transportation and construction and bring more tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.

The two sides should further promote their good cooperation within the multilateral frameworks of the United Nations and the SCO, and continue to support each other and coordinate their stance on major international and regional issues.

Rakhmonov agreed and said bilateral cooperation in various areas is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples. He pledged Tajikistan's continued efforts to promote the steady development of bilateral friendly relations in an all-round way.

Hu arrived here on Sunday afternoon. He will also travel to Britain for the G8+5 summit scheduled for July 7.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2005)