DUSHANBE, September 10, 2015, Asia-Plus – Chinese news agency Xinhua reports that China yesterday backed Tajikistan to return to normality after “eight police officers were killed in a terrorist attack there.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei was quoted as saying at a regular news briefing: “As a close friendly neighbor and strategic partner, China supports the measures taken by the Tajikistan government to maintain national security and stability.”

He reportedly said that China was willing to deepen security cooperation with Tajikistan so as to maintain peace and stability of the two nations and the region.

The police officers were killed on September 4 in attacks on the outskirts of the capital Dushanbe and in the Vahdat Township, just outside Dushanbe.

Meanwhile, the Tajik MFA information department reports that Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov received China''s Ambassador to Tajikistan Fan Xianrong on September 8.

The two reportedly discussed a broad range of issues related to prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and China.

Tajik law enforcement authorities say nine police officers were killed in attacks on the police station in the Vahdat Township and on a Defense Ministry building not far from the Dushanbe International Airport. The criminals then fled to the Romit Gorge, adjacent to Vahdat, where security forces are targeting them in a large-scale manhunt.

According to official data, more than 60 supporters of Major-General Abduhalim Nazarzoda were arrested and 20 others were killed.