Located at the crossroads of various civilizations, Tajikistan, a Central Asian country with a rich culture, remains as important an outpost for exchange and connectivity today as it did as part of the ancient Silk Road.
Somoni Square in the center of Dushanbe, the country's capital, marks the beginning of a route along a legendary 1,000-kilometer highway that has been part of the old Silk Road for millennia.
It is a highway that connects Tajikistan with China and is part of the age-old Pamir Highway. The former Soviet Union was the first to pave the historic trail, but it later fell into disrepair.
In 2009, the China Road Bridge Corporation (CRBC), one of China's largest construction companies, was commissioned to upgrade the road to modern standards. The plan is for the upgraded road to eventually connect with the Chinese border.
As the highway project extends eastwards from Dushanbe, it will face a major challenge - the Pamir mountains.
With difficult terrain and harsh weather, this region accounts for nearly 45 percent of the country's land mass but only two percent of its population.
"The high altitude results in permafrost year-round, posing a technical challenge for road construction. Additionally, the thin air at high altitudes presents health challenges for workers. Lastly, the Pamir is a very remote and underdeveloped area, where even power supply can be problematic," said Li Changwei, general manager at the CRBC's Tajikistan Office.
Building a high-quality road will be crucial if the region is to realize better development.
Meanwhile, China also has a lot to gain from the increased land trade connectivity with Tajikistan and, by extension, its neighboring states to the west.
Growing connectivity between the two countries has already had a perceptible impact. A reporter for China Global Television Network (CGTN) was taken by surprise when a stall owner in a remote bazaar in the country said he had been learning the Chinese language.
As China Global Television Network (CGTN) reporters visited a random remote bazaar, a stall owner said he's been learning the Chinese language.
"My Chinese name is Shanbo. Shan, like mountains [in Chinese]. Because in the future I want to be an interpreter," said the young man.
The ancient Silk Road has been upgraded, yet the underlying principle remains the same - fostering connectivity and facilitating trade and cultural exchange across vast distances, just as it did centuries ago.
Highway linking China, Tajikistan expected to revitalize Silk Road exchange, trade
With over a million followers on social media, French influencer Greg is dedicated to showcasing modern life and culture in China, inviting viewers to experience the country firsthand.
Currently based in Shanghai, Greg leverages his platform to share everything from delectable Chinese cuisine to popular trends, often featuring creative videos such as "Living a day in Shanghai on 100 yuan" and "How many Chinese cities can you visit in a day?"
Greg's connection to China dates back 16 years to when he was a 25-year-old student at a university in France. As graduation approached, he had the opportunity to study abroad and chose China among various options. Upon arriving in China, he quickly envisioned a future in the country and became determined to secure a steady job.
His journey took a significant turn during the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, where he worked as a translator for several travel agencies. His outstanding performance during the event led to an opportunity with a multinational wine trading company, where he served as the marketing director.
"Being a foreigner who speaks Chinese opened up numerous job opportunities for me. Every day has felt like a new adventure. Each day has felt different, and I was discovering new things every day. Even now, in 2024, I still feel this way," he said.
Initially, Greg produced informative videos in his spare time while working in the wine industry. His strong desire for self-expression and creativity attracted a significant following, fueling his inspiration for more content.
"I focus on creating optimistic videos. Because in my mind, China is a place full of optimism and happiness. You can experience anything you want here. You just need to create your own opportunities. I really like this kind of life," he said.
In 2022, after 12 years in the wine industry, he transitioned to full-time content creation. This shift was motivated by his love for the profession and a realization he had during a visit to France two years prior, where he discovered a widespread lack of understanding about China.
"I often complain about how inconvenient things are in France. For example, every time I go out, I forget my wallet, but in China, we don't need a wallet. Everything can be done through our phones. When we want to go shopping in France, we have to line up at the checkout and take all the stuff back home all by ourselves. I told my French countrymates, 'You know what? In China, people can use apps to order takeout, and it can be delivered within half an hour,'" he said.
Greg has made it his mission to create videos that highlight the aspects of China he loves, sharing these stories with audiences in France and around the world.
"People in France like China a lot now because of the videos I post," he said proudly.
He also emphasizes the need for a real-life experience to truly understand China.
"Watching videos is not enough. You have to come and see for yourself. Five hundred videos are nothing when compared to spending just 24 hours in Shanghai. It's only when you experience that you'll truly understand what China is all about. I wholeheartedly invite everyone to visit China, and I hope my videos inspire them to do that," he said.
French influencer promotes China's allure through social media
