This year marks the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tajikistan as well as the 10th anniversary of the inking of the Sino-Tajik strategic partnership agreement, which forms the foundation of bilateral relations.
The year also marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which also helps build a community with a shared future for mankind.
During the past three decades, the Tajik-Chinese relationship has made significant achievements in various areas. Tajikistan and China are good neighbors and close partners which support each other in difficult times. Tajikistan attaches great importance to the increasing cooperation with China. In fact, deepening relations with China is a priority of Tajikistan’s foreign policy, as Tajikistan considers China as a reliable strategic partner in the international arena.
Amid the complex global situation, and increasing global and regional challenges and threats, the importance of Tajik-Chinese relations has been increasing. Tajikistan considers China as a friend and sincere partner, and it is glad to get China’s support for its sustainable development.
Internationally, China has great influence, participates in political and economic affairs, and plays a constructive role in maintaining global stability and security. As such, Tajikistan welcomes China’s Global Security Initiative and is ready to conduct exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese side within the framework of the initiative.
Over the past three decades, a lot of practical experiences and significant achievements have been accumulated by both sides in terms of trade and cooperation. The high-level cooperation between Tajikistan and China allows them to implement the agreements they have reached in various fields.
The friendship and understanding between our two countries strengthened during the course of jointly combating the novel coronavirus pandemic, especially because China donated 8.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Tajikistan.
Cooperation between the two countries is based on a solid political and economic foundation, and therefore it can promote mutually beneficial development in all spheres, which is not only in the long-term national interests of both sides but also will contribute to the stability and security of the region. In addition, it will strengthen bilateral relations in political, trade, economics, security and other areas of mutual interest.
Besides, with the strengthening of Tajik-Sino ties at multiple levels, cultural and humanitarian relations between the two sides will gain even more importance.
Tajikistan was one of the first countries to support the Belt and Road Initiative and participate in the initiative. The two sides also have agreed to integrate the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with Tajikistan’s National Development Strategy up to 2030 in order to achieve common prosperity.
Tajikistan also supports the China-proposed Global Development Initiative, and is ready to cooperate with China in implementing it with its development programs, which will help boost Tajikistan’s green and digital economy.
China is also a leading investor in Tajikistan, accounting for more than 40 percent of the total foreign investment in the Tajik economy. Dozens of important goals in different fields have been set by the two countries, including in the fields of energy, highways, industries and agriculture.
In the 31 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, and in 10 years since inking the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, Tajikistan and China have made many remarkable bilateral achievements, thanks to the frequent meetings and discussions between them at various levels. As a matter of fact, under the wise and visionary leadership of the two heads of state, Sino-Tajik relations have blossomed and become a template for ideal bilateral relations.
Tajikistan attaches great importance to strengthening cooperation with China under the frameworks of the United Nations, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as under the Central Asia-China mechanism. As such, Tajikistan welcomes and is looking forward to the upcoming Central Asia-China Summit in Xi’an, Shaanxi province of China.
Tajikistan is also preparing for the upcoming visit of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to China, when a number of political documents and trade and investment agreements are likely to be signed by the two sides. And we are confident that Rahmon’s visit will inject new impetus into the Tajik-Chinese comprehensive strategic partnership.
One of the most important areas of Sino-Tajik friendship and partnership is cooperation between the two countries’ scientific and analytical centers. Due to the Tajik president’s initiative, the Center for Strategic Research, the leading Tajik research institute, has established close ties with many leading think tanks of China.
We are confident that scientific and fruitful cooperation between the two countries’ research institutes will help strengthen mutual understanding, cooperation and friendship between people of the two countries, and take bilateral ties to an even higher level.
The author is deputy director of the Center for Strategic Research under the president of the Republic of Tajikistan.
