Tajik President Emomali Rahmon receives an interview with Xinhua in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, May 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Chaoqun)

　　DUSHANBE, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Tajikistan and China have steadily expanded cooperation across various fields in recent years, with bilateral relations scaling new historical heights, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has said.

　　Rahmon made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua in Dushanbe on Saturday ahead of his state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

　　China is not only a close neighbor of Tajikistan, but also a strategic partner, he said, noting that over the more than 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have built a relationship of profound friendship and mutual trust.

　　The two sides have consistently strengthened mutual political trust and mutually beneficial cooperation in order to effectively respond to challenges and threats facing regional security and sustainable development, he added.

　　Bilateral relations have flourished in recent years, with the two countries maintaining close exchanges at all levels, particularly the highest, Rahmon said, adding that the Tajik side highly values the important outcomes of President Xi's state visit to Tajikistan in July 2024, which has ushered in a new chapter for bilateral friendship.

　　Bilateral ties have been elevated to a new historical level with the signing of the joint statement announcing the establishment of China-Tajikistan comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, he said.