Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov met with visiting Vice Premier Wu Yi in Dushanbe Thursday, with both sides reaffirming readiness for better ties and cooperation.

Rakhmonov told Wu that Tajikistan takes as its top priority the development of good neighborly and friendly ties with China.

He said he had met with President Hu Jintao twice this year and they had reached broad consensus on deepening the bilateral cooperation.

Tajikistan desires more high-level exchanges with China to enhance mutual trust and coordination on regional and international issues, he reiterated.

Rakhmonov hoped to learn from China's successful experience and strengthen cooperation in trade, communications, education, water and power projects, as well as the textile industry.

Wu reassured her host of the great importance China attaches to the development of friendly ties with Tajikistan, saying China will, like always, support Tajikistan's efforts to consolidate its independence and sovereignty and to develop its national economy.

She expressed appreciations of Tajikistan's firm support of one-China principle and the reunification of China.

China supports Tajikistan in its endeavor to join the World Trade Organization at an early date, she said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2005)