Music has been serving as a bridge to strengthen the friendship between China and Tajikistan.
Since China and Tajikistan established diplomatic relations in 1992, the bilateral relations have achieved leapfrog development. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, exchanges between two countries have also become more and more frequent.
The Tajikistan state college of music arts in Dushanbe, the country's top music academy, is one of the examples that showcase the cultural exchanges between two countries.
Gulbnur Rahmonova is the head of the college's folk music department. She gave a solo Guzheng performance in 2019 when Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Tajikistan.
"[When the performance ended,] there was prolonged applause. It's safe to say that no one in Tajikistan had ever performed with such an instrument; neither had anyone played it in front of state leaders. Therefore, the performance was really surprising," Rahmonova said.
In November 2015, Tajikistan state college of music arts signed a cooperation agreement with Lanzhou University of Arts and Science, allowing students from both sides to exchange and study in the other college.
"China and Tajikistan are good friends working together for the Belt and Road Initiative. Therefore, I've got an idea to translate this Tajik song into Chinese, and dedicated it to my friends back home and the friendship between China and Tajikistan. So the song is sung in both Tajik and Chinese languages," said Imirin Bexti, a Chinese Tajik studying at the Tajikistan state college of music arts.
Music deepens friendship between China, Tajikistan
Music deepens friendship between China, Tajikistan
Infrastructure is at the heart of economic ties between China and its neighbor to the west, Tajikistan, as the in-depth and close cooperation between the two countries plays an important part in improving the livelihoods of Tajik people.
The Tajik capital of Dushanbe is no stranger to monuments. The city boasts the world's second tallest flag pole and the statue of Ismoil Somoni, the 10th-century ruler whom the country's currency is named after.
The latest addition to the list of impressive buildings in Dushanbe is the Independence and Freedom Monument.
Opened in 2022, it was built by Xinjiang Construction and Engineering Corporation, a subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation.
Gulomov Marufjon, a local Tajik who has been working for China State Construction for half a decade, told China Global Television Network (CGTN) that a total of five projects has been delivered by his company in Tajikistan since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed, the famous Independence and Freedom Monument included.
"In terms of infrastructure, the cooperation between the two countries has seen new developments every year since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed. Our company has built and delivered five important projects -- the National Library, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, two highways, and this Independence and Freedom Monument," said Gulomov, assistant to general manager of the Tajik branch of Xinjiang Construction and Engineering Corporation.
The tower's height of 91 meters symbolizes the year of the country's independence, namely 1991. While commemorating the Central Asian country charting its own path, it is one that is increasingly integrated with its neighbor to the east, China.
"More than 530 Chinese companies are operating in Tajikistan, encompassing industries such as construction, agriculture, industry, transportation, and maintenance. These companies have created numerous job opportunities for people and contributed to the development of the economy and bilateral relations," said Gulomov.
This monument to Tajik's modern history is also seen as a symbol of the country’s growing relationship with China.
Ties in building infrastructure praised for improving Tajik livelihoods
