Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon during a welcoming ceremony for Rahmon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 5, 2012. Rahmon arrived in China`s southeast coastal city of Xiamen on June 1 to pay a visit to China and attend the 12th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Beijing on June 6-7. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

>BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon, on Tuesday morning at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Hu welcomed Rahmon to China`s capital, where he will participate in the 12th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Wednesday and Thursday.

With Hu and Rahmon meeting for the 13th time since 2003, the Chinese president said this latest occasion would certainly advance good-neighborly cooperation between China and Tajikistan.

Rahmon said he was delighted to exchange in-depth views with Hu on the development of bilateral relations, and stated that it is a priority of Tajik diplomacy to develop ties with China.

In January, the two countries celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations, cited by Rahmon as an important milestone in the history of the development of bilateral ties.

Hu held a red-carpet ceremony for Rahmon at the Great Hall of the People before their formal talks.

Tajikistan`s president arrived in China`s southeast coastal city of Xiamen on June 1.