A Tajik geopolitical scholar said a series of China-proposed initiatives carry great significance for Tajikistan's modernization efforts, and an even brighter future in China-Tajikistan relations is expected going forward.
Guzel Maitdinova, director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies of the Russian-Tajik Slavic University, made the remarks amid a high-profile state visit paid by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Tajikistan.
These global initiatives put forward by China -- the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global AI Governance Initiative, are aimed at building a community with a shared future for mankind.
In 2016, Tajikistan launched its National Development Strategy for the period up to 2030 (NDS-2030), which says that the landlocked country's ultimate goal of the long-term development is to improve the standards of living of its people on the basis of sustainable economic development.
Maitdinova said China's initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), are very helpful in driving Tajikistan's own modernization efforts as they are vital to security, stability, and development in the region of Central Asia.
"These initiatives are playing an important role in ensuring security and development, and are of great significance to the future of mankind. Tajikistan has supported these China-proposed initiatives, and we have embarked on a journey to modernization to realize our national development strategy and become an industrial and agricultural powerhouse by 2030. Putting these initiatives into practice is key to stable development and long-term stability in the country. Tajikistan and China have seen fruitful bilateral cooperation results. And Tajikistan was [one of] the earliest countries to declare its support for the BRI, and highlighted the dovetail between its NDS-2030 and the BRI. That's because China's initiatives are conducive to harmonious development. And building a community with a shared future for mankind is the guarantee for the security and stable development of Central Asian countries," she said.
Xi and Rahmon on Friday attended the inauguration of a new parliament building and a government building aided by China in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
The project for the two buildings was agreed upon during Rahmon's visit to China in 2017. Two years later, when Xi was making a state visit to Tajikistan, the two leaders jointly unveiled the construction models for the buildings.
The project marks the first time that China has deployed a joint design model in an aid project. The two buildings serve as a fine exemplar of the organic fusion of Tajik architectural style and Chinese architectural technology, and constitute a significant result of the Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries.
"Chinese president's visit to Tajikistan is of historic significance. His state visit is of the highest level. We expect that the two countries will deepen their strategic partnership, further implement the construction of major projects, and witness cooperation fruits such as the inauguration of the China-aided parliament building and government building. We also hope Tajikistan and China will continue their cooperation in transportation, a sector important to the country, including the highway leading to the Karasu-Kulma Pass at the Chinese border, and hopefully a railway connecting Kashgar with Dushanbe and even with Samarkand," Maitdinova said.
Xi wrapped up his three-day state visit to Tajikistan on Saturday. Before Tajikistan he paid a state visit to Kazakhstan where he also attended the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
China-proposed Initiatives help Tajikistan's modernization efforts: scholar
