Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the Development of Their Good-Neighborly and Friendly Relations and Cooperation Oriented Towards the 21st Century

Dushanbe, July 2000

At the invitation of President Emomali Sharipovich Rakhmonov of the Republic of Tajikistan, President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China paid a state visit to the Republic of Tajikistan from 3 to 4 July 2000.

During the visit, the two Presidents held talks in a constructive and mutually-understanding atmosphere. They discussed the further development of the good-neighborly and friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries, exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern, and reached broad consensus.

The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan (hereinafter referred to as "the Two Parties"),

Both desiring to further develop their existing good-neighborly and friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation;

Firmly believing that the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and other universally recognized norms governing international relations, and agreements reached between the two countries should serve as the basis for the development of their bilateral relations; and

Reiterating their commitment to the principles and provisions of the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the Basic Principles of Bilateral Relations (9 March 1993), the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan (16 September 1996) and the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on Further Developing Good-Neighborly and Friendly Relations and Mutually Beneficial Cooperation (13 August 1999),

Hereby state as follows,

I. The Two Parties develop good-neighborly and friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-use or threat of force, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

II£® The Two Parties speak highly of the smooth and continuous development of China-Tajikistan good-neighborly and friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and other fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations. They emphasize that it is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples to further consolidate the bilateral relations. To meet the challenges in the 21st century, the Two Parties are ready to work together to invigorate the bilateral relations on the basis of steady development.

III. The Two Parties hold that the Agreement Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on China-Tajikistan State Boundary signed by the two Presidents in Dalian on 13 August 1999 and the Agreement Between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Kyrgyzstan on the Converging Point of Their State Boundaries soon to be signed have laid a solid foundation for a complete settlement of the boundary issue between the two countries. The Two Parties agree to accelerate the negotiation process and work, in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, for an early settlement, through consultation on an equal footing, of the question of boundary alignment in the areas where the Two Parties have yet to reach an agreement on the basis of the relevant treaties concerning the China-Tajikistan boundary, and in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law.

The Two Parties also agree to maintain the status quo of the boundary pending the final settlement of the boundary issue.

IV. The Two Parties agree that economic cooperation and trade are an important part of China-Tajikistan relations, and have potentials for further expansion. The Two Parties state that they will make full use of the favourable conditions, such as geographical proximity and economic complementarity to further expand their bilateral economic cooperation and trade on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The Two Parties will take effective measures to implement the existing bilateral agreements on economic cooperation and trade, and will continue to consolidate the legal basis for improved and strengthened bilateral relations in this field.

The Two Parties will strengthen the work of the Sino-Tajik Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and Trade, and work to create favorable conditions for and provide necessary assistance to Chinese and Tajik entities engaged in economic cooperation and trade.

The Two Parties will further strengthen cooperation in road transportation. They will earnestly implement the Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on Motor Vehicle Transportation signed on 13 August 1999 and provide facilities for each other's passenger and cargo transportation.

V. The Two Parties are ready to expand cooperation between their military departments.

VI. The Two Parties maintain that national separatism, international terrorism and religious extremism pose a serious threat to regional security and stability. The Two Parties are resolved to further strengthen their coordination within the bilateral or multi-lateral framework to jointly combat these activities and maintain regional peace and stability.

VII. The Two Parties will earnestly implement the Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on the Cooperation Against Illegal Traffic in and Abuse of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Controlled Chemical Precursors signed on 13 August 1999 and take effective measures to crack down on cross-boundary criminal activities such as illegal trafficking of weapons and drugs.

VIII. The People's Republic of China welcomes the completion of the national reconciliation process and the smooth conduct of the presidential and parliamentary elections in the Republic of Tajikistan, and reaffirms its continued support to the Republic of Tajikistan and her leaders in their efforts to safeguard national independence and sovereignty, maintain stability and solve economic issues in the post-conflict reconstruction.

The Republic of Tajikistan reaffirms its commitment to the one China policy and its support for China's reunification cause. The Republic of Tajikistan rejects the assertion that the relations across the Taiwan Straits are "state-to-state relations", opposes any attempt to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan", and opposes "Taiwan independence" and Taiwan's participation in any international organizations for which only sovereign states are eligible. The Republic of Tajikistan reiterates that it will not establish any official ties or have any exchange of an official nature with Taiwan.

IX. The Two Parties express concern over the incessant tensions in Afghanistan and their negative impact on regional stability. The Two Parties hold that the "6+2" (China, Tajikistan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan plus Russia and the United States) mechanism initiated by the UN on the Afghanistan question is a channel of special importance in exploring a peaceful solution of the Afghanistan issue through mediation, and call on the parties concerned to play an active and constructive role within this framework. The Two Parties express support for all peace-promoting efforts by relevant countries and international organizations, and stress that the international community should create a constructive and favorable external environment for the Afghanistan peace process.

X. The Two Parties are of the view that all countries have the right to establish their own political, economic and social systems and choose their own mode of safeguarding and protecting human rights in the light of their national conditions. No country has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other sovereignty states under any pretext, still less to undermine others' sovereignty or independence on the ground of so-called "human rights taking precedence over sovereignty" or "humanitarian intervention".

XI. The Two Parties emphasize that it is of great importance for them to exchange views on global and regional issues of common concern. The Two Parties are willing to strengthen cooperation in both bilateral and multi-lateral context and work for the establishment of a new, fair and rational international political and economic order on the basis of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and universally recognized principles of international law.

Voices from Asia: Editorials and Opinion from Asian Newspapers | Asia-Pacific Distance Calculator |