DUSHANBE, July 23, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- On Wednesday July 23, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) hosted a technical briefing on the preliminary schedules of a session of the council of foreign minister of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and an official visit of Chinese foreign minister to Tajikistan.

Speaking to reporters, the MFA information department head Davlat Nazriyev noted that foreign ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan are arriving in Dushanbe tomorrow.   

The SCO foreign ministers’ meeting will be held at the government out-of-town residency Pugus, Varzob district on July 25.  The ministers will discuss the agenda for the regional grouping’s upcoming summit that is scheduled to take place in the Tajik capital on August 28.  After signing of documents the ministers will give a joint press conference.

“Friday afternoon, they will be received by President Emomali Rahmon,” the MFA spokesman said.      

On the official visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to Tajikistan, Nazriyev said that it will start on July 26.  Yang is scheduled to hold talks with his Tajik counterpart Hamrokhon Zarifi, President Emomali Rahmon, Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev and Prime Minster Oqil Oqilov.  A number of bilateral documents are expected to be singed during Chinese foreign minister’s official visit. 

During the visit, the Chinese minister will also discuss preparations for the upcoming official visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao before the SCO summit.