Tajikistan's Chinese horizons

This year, China became Tajikistan's main trading partner for the first time, with a balance exceeding billion. At the recent SCO summit held in Tianjin, there was also talk of establishing a centre for combating drug trafficking in Dushanbe, and bilateral agreements were signed on the digital economy, renewable energy and transport.

Dushanbe (AsiaNews) - China's ambassador to Tajikistan, Guo Shengkun, met with journalists to comment on the outcome of the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, which was also attended by Tajikistan's president, Emomali Rakhmon.

According to his comments, the meeting was the most important in the organisation's history, with more than 20 heads of state and 10 leaders of international organisations discussing issues related to security, the economy and the new world order.

This global perspective was the main event proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the intention of “strengthening the priority of international law, the development of multilateralism and the formation of a fair and balanced system of international relations”.

The Chinese diplomat referred that the main outcomes of the summit were, first and foremost, “the development of a development strategy for the SCO for the next 10 years” and the formation of important security centres, including one for combating drug trafficking in Dushanbe, as well as the creation of a new Development Bank and the formation of new platforms for collaboration in the fields of energy, the digital economy and scientific research.

Particular attention was paid to bilateral relations between Beijing and Dushanbe, highlighting that China became Tajikistan's main trading partner for the first time this year, with a balance exceeding billion. Various projects in the fields of electric mobility, artificial intelligence, green energy and transport exchanges were discussed at the summit. Several agreements were signed on the digital economy, low-carbon development and infrastructure.

The ambassador recalled the words of President Rakhmon himself, who said that “Tajikistan has always been a reliable partner for China”, and the opening of new air routes between Dushanbe and Xi'an and Dushanbe and Guangzhou was announced, which will be operational very soon. In October, Chinese Culture Days will be held in the Tajik capital, with a series of concerts, exhibitions and other events.

Responding to questions from journalists, Guo Shengkun stressed that Tajikistan ‘strongly supports Xi Jinping's global vision’, which emphasises the equality of sovereignty, the supremacy of international law and ‘a practical approach centred on the needs of the people’.

In his view, the country has every intention of collaborating on these initiatives through the SCO platform, developing regulatory frameworks and joint actions to address global challenges, from climate change to the fight against international crime.

In his words, ‘the partnership between the two countries goes beyond the limits of economics and politics’ and includes the high priority of transport routes, culture and global initiatives, promising a great common future for the Tajik and Chinese peoples.

“China is ready to cooperate with all states, including Tajikistan, in the initiative for a new shared order that will create a true network of communications and services, with increasingly important and joint efforts to solve current problems, achieving together very important results for the future of the entire planet,” concluded the Beijing ambassador.