The two neighbors, which are adjacent geographically and complementary to each other economically, also pledged to boost cooperation in such areas as transportation, telecommunication, electricity, finance, mining and agriculture, the communique said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L front) and Tajik Prime Minister Akil Akilov (R front) attend a signing ceremony after their talks in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Nov. 25, 2010. [Zhang Duo/Xinhua]

In the communique, both sides spoke highly of their cooperation concerning ports which contribute greatly to the development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The two nations will also speed up efforts to improve infrastructure construction in Karasu-Kulma port and customs clearance conditions to allow the all-year-round operation of the port at an early date.

The two countries, meanwhile, vowed to continue promoting cooperation in culture, education, health, tourism, sports and journalism, and encourage the sponsorship of cultural days and cultural festivals by each other as well as exchanges between youths of the two countries.

Both sides will further their close cooperation so as to continue improving the facilities and quality of teaching in the Confucius Institute in Tajikistan, the communique said.

In the joint communique, both sides also hailed Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's working visit to China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in June, saying the visit was crucial in boosting the Sino-Tajik ties as well as cooperation at local levels between the two countries.

Both sides are willing to implement all the agreements signed during Rahmon's visit, to further strengthen cooperation between China's Xinjiang region and Tajikistan in fields like trade and economy, transportation, energy and agriculture, the communique said.