China urges Philippines to stop infringement, provocation: spokeswoman

The Philippines' illegal intrusion into the Nansha Qundao (Nansha Islands) severely infringed upon China's sovereignty, and China has urged the Philippines to stop making provocations, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

"The Philippines' illegal intrusion into the waters adjacent to Ren'ai Jiao (Ren'ai Reef) of China's Nansha Qundao has seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty. It is justified, reasonable and legitimate that China Coast Guard took law enforcement measures in accordance with the law. We urge the Philippines to stop infringing on China's rights and making provocations, and return to the right track of properly handling disputes through dialog and consultation," she said.

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.