DUSHANBE, August 13, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, next month.

A well-informed source in the Tajik government says the two presidents will meet on September 13 on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The sides are expected to discuss a wide range of issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and China.  Rahmon and Xi will exchange views on economic, cultural, scientific and military cooperation between their countries.

The two will also discuss international and regional issues being of mutual interest, the source added.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, Russian media sources report that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet for the first time with newly inaugurated Iranian President Hassan Rohani in Bishkek on September 13.  Iran has observer status in the SCO and the meeting was reportedly arranged at Rohani’s request.