Emomali Rakhmon, president of the Republic of Tajikistan, met with General Liang Guanglie, the Chinese defense minister and state councilor who is attending the Defense Minister Conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), on May 14 at the Presidential Palace in Dushanbe, capital of the Republic of Tajikistan.

　　Rakhmon said the defense departments of the SCO member states must further strengthen exchanges and cooperation so as to effectively crack down on the "three evil forces" and maintain regional security and stability. The Tajikistan side would continue to actively participate in and make all out efforts to boost defense and security cooperation within the SCO framework. Rakhmon expressed his sympathy and solicitude for the great losses of lives and properties caused by the massive earthquake in China's Sichuan Province.

　　Rakhmon requested Liang Guanglie to convey his cordial regards and best wishes to President Hu Jintao. Rakhmon said Tajikistan would unswervingly adhere to the one -China policy and support China's peaceful reunification.

　　Liang Guanglie conveyed President Hu Jintao's best regards to President Rakhmon and thanked the Tajikistan people for their concern for the Chinese people in the quake-hit areas. He said the Sino-Tajikistan Good-Neighborly and Friendly Cooperation Treaty signed jointly by President Hu Jintao and President Rakhmon in January 2007 has laid a solid legal foundation for the long-term reciprocal cooperation between the two sides, and the bilateral cooperation between the Chinese and Tajikistan armed forces and their cooperation within the framework of the SCO have been developing simultaneously.

　　By Wei Lianglei

　　(May 15, PLA Daily)                                                  Editor: Dong Zhaohui