Xi’s visit to take China-Tajikistan economic cooperation to next level: official

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Tajikistan will take the trade and economic cooperation between China and Tajikistan to a new high level, according to a Tajik official.

Xi arrived in Dushanbe on Thursday night, commencing his state visit to Tajikistan following a busy schedule at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. He also paid a state visit to Kazakhstan.

Upon arrival at Tajikistan, Xi expressed his anticipation for discussions with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to formulate new plans and arrangements for the development of China-Tajikistan relations in light of the new circumstances.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Dilshod Sharifi, head of international economic cooperation of Tajik Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, talked about the promising future of China-Tajikistan economic and trade cooperation, saying that the related collaboration is an important driving force behind the bilateral relations.

"This visit is going to raise our trade and economic cooperation to the next level, because currently we are envisaging to sign several important bilateral documents in the trade and economic sphere. We are going to sign several memorandum of understandings in specific sectors of our cooperation, such as trade development, infrastructure construction and digital technologies," Sharifi said.

For Tajikistan, a resource-rich country grappling with economic challenges, China represents a reliable partner for infrastructure and investment. The Belt and Road Initiative is one of the most outstanding examples.

"Very important infrastructure projects are being developed within the Belt and Road Initiative, especially the Dushanbe-Chanak road, which was implemented by the Chinese investment. This road allowed us to increase the internal trade within this country and increase the trade turnover with other countries in the region," said Sharifi.

Xi’s visit to take China-Tajikistan economic cooperation to next level: official

Xi’s visit to take China-Tajikistan economic cooperation to next level: official

China's central bank said it will carry out temporary repos or reverse repos based on market conditions starting from Monday.

The move aims to keep liquidity reasonable and ample in the banking system and improve the accuracy and effectiveness of open market operations, the People's Bank of China said in a statement.

These overnight temporary repos and reverse repos will be conducted through bidding, with their interest rates set on the basis of the seven-day reverse repos.

Experts say these operations will further enrich monetary policy toolbox and help the central bank adjust market liquidity in a more timely and accurate manner.

Temporary reverse repos can provide funds to institutions when the market is under liquidity strains, while temporary repos can help drain excess liquidity.

A repo, or repurchase agreement, is a process in which the central bank sells bonds to financial institutions and promises to buy them back in the future.

In the Government Work Report released in March, the country vowed to continue to implement a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy this year. It also pledged to maintain adequate liquidity at a proper level and see that aggregate financing and money supply stay in step with the projected economic growth and Consumer Price Index increase.

China's central bank to conduct temporary repos, reverse repos from Monday