Tajik president visits S. China

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov on Wednesday arrived Sanya in China's southernmost Hainan Province.

Rakhmonov is to stay in the island province for five days.

Tajik president told the Provincial Governor Luo Baoming in a meeting on Wednesday evening that his country and China were friendly neighbors as well as strategic partners, and Tajikistan was eager to learn from China, in particular in the field of tourism development and tourist facilities construction.

Rakhmonov said this was his third time to visit Hainan, the most famous tropical resort in China, adding that the city of Sanya has developed remarkably with more beautiful scenery and improved livelihood.

Governor Luo briefed the Tajik guest on the recent economic development and the current conditions of local tourism industry.

Luo said Hainan attracted about 610,000 overseas visitors in 2006, an increase by 48 percent and suggested the Rakhmonov see more of the province and feel more of the culture and service of Hainan.

Luo said Hainan was ready to make more contribution to the cooperation between Tajikistan and the province.

Rakhmonov's seven-day state visit to China as guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao started on Jan. 15. Prior visit to Hainan, he also paid a visit to the Three Gorges Dam in central China's Hubei Province.

Source: Xinhua