Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, June 9, 2018. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

QINGDAO, June 9 (Xinhua) -- China and Tajikistan should continue helping and supporting each other to cope with challenges together and achieve common development, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday while meeting his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon.

As the two countries are at a critical stage of national development and rejuvenation, Xi said, China and Tajikistan should keep deepening bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to benefit the two peoples more widely.

He said China supports Tajikistan to take presidency of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia and is willing to help Tajikistan prepare for the conference.

Emomali Rahmon is in the coastal Chinese city of Qingdao to attend the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.