On March 19, 2003, Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin met with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Sharipovich Rakhmonov during his stopover in Beijing at Zhongnanhai.

Jiang said he regarded Rakhmonov as an old friend of both his and the Chinese people, and the good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Tajikistan had produced positive results during the 11 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. The two countries signed a series of political documents which served as the basis of bilateral relations and settled historical border issues, creating opportunities for advancing bilateral ties. The political trust between China and Tajikistan had improved, and cooperation in various fields had constantly enhanced. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was making positive contributions to maintaining peace and stability and promoting common development in the region and the world.

Quoting a Chinese saying that "kinsmen foster goodwill to each other, and so do good neighbors", Jiang said China was glad that Tajikistan had a stable political situation, its economic recovery was accelerating, people's lives were improving and its international status had strengthened. China hoped Tajikistan would maintain long-term peace, well-being and prosperity.

Rakhmonov thanked Jiang for the meeting and said he and Jiang were very close old friends and had met many  times. He expressed gratitude for Jiang's long-time remarkable contributions to Tajikistan-China relations. The two countries were friends, and Tajikistan always gave China priority when dealing with foreign relations. Under the complicated and changing international circumstances, Tajikistan-China relations were of great importance to regional stability, hesaid, adding that Tajikistan would continue to be dedicated to bilateral good-neighborly cooperative ties of friendship and mutual benefit.

The two sides also discussed the Iraq issue.

State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan attended the meeting.