DUSHANBE: It is necessary for China to strengthen legislative cooperation with Tajikistan, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said here yesterday.

"We support the two legislatures to exchange experience and learn from each other in such fields as establishing economic laws, supervision over the executive branch and legislation for boosting economic progress and external relations," Hu said during a meeting with senior Tajik lawmakers.

President Hu, who arrived on Tuesday for his first state visit to the Central Asian country, hailed the traditional friendship between the two peoples and the development of relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties 16 years ago.