State visit of the President of Tajikistan to China – transport, energy and industrial projects on the agenda of high-level talks

nCa Report

On 18 May, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Xi’an.

During the meeting, the sides discussed issues of strengthening cooperation in such promising sectors as the green economy, digital technologies, infrastructure, electric power, construction and reconstruction of power plants in Tajikistan and the construction of power transmission lines.

As noted, Tajikistan considers it important to attract modern technologies and use China’s experience in the development of national industry, agriculture, infrastructure, the creation of joint ventures in this direction, the participation of Chinese enterprises in the creation of industrial and agricultural technology parks in Tajikistan.

Regarding this, the parties agreed that they will implement joint measures on the issue of reconstruction of the Tajik aluminum company “Talco”.

Also, the necessary steps will be taken to implement the project to establish the production of electric vehicles in Tajikistan and their spare parts.

It was stressed that the introduction of modern Chinese technologies for the cultivation and processing of agricultural products, especially cotton, vegetables and fruits, will be beneficial to both sides.

In the field of transport cooperation, the Tajik side supports proposals to create an economic corridor “China—Tajikistan—Northern Afghanistan” and in this direction considers it important to develop and implement a project for the construction of a section of the Varshez road in the Shugnan district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region to the Kulma–Karasu intersection and the reconstruction of the Kulma–Karasu checkpoint. This initiative was positively received by the Chinese leader.

During the meeting, the issues of restoring the Dushanbe–Beijing air service were discussed.

Touching upon the topic of foreign policy cooperation, taking into account the turbulent situation in some regions of the world and the need to strengthen cooperation in the field of security and stability, the parties stressed the importance of expanding close cooperation between the relevant structures of the parties to address these issues.

China also supports Tajikistan’s international initiatives to address water and climate issues.

Signed documents

As a result of high-level meetings and negotiations between Tajikistan and China, 25 documents on cooperation were signed in the presence and with the participation of the heads of state.

Emomali Rahmon and Xi Jinping signed the “Joint Statement of the Republic of Tajikistan and the People’s Republic of China”.

Among other documents:

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on joint anti-terrorist exercises;
Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the acceptance of equipment for forensic medical examination for DNA identification;
Memorandum of Cooperation between the Committee on Television and Radio under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Information Bureau of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China;
Agreement on the provision of gratuitous assistance between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the People’s Government of China;
Memorandum between the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China;
Memorandum of Cooperation on in-depth trade and economic expansion between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Trade of the People’s Republic of China;
Agreement on cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the People’s Government of China on search and rescue of civil aircraft;
Protocol on approval of the list of joint scientific and technical projects for financing for 2022-2023 between the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China;
Action plan for the implementation of the Agreement on the Establishment of Twinning Relations between the Khatlon region of the Republic of Tajikistan and Shaanxi Province of the People’s Republic of China for 2023-2025;
Agreement on the establishment of twinning relations between the Dangara district of the Khatlon region of the Republic of Tajikistan and the city of Weinan in the Shenxi Province of the People’s Republic of China;
Memorandum on the Establishment of Friendship and cooperation relations between the City of Dushanbe of the Republic of Tajikistan and the city of Chengdu of the People’s Republic of China;
Agreement on the establishment of Friendly Exchange relations between the city of Khujand in the Sughd region of the Republic of Tajikistan and the city of Lanzhou of the People’s Republic of China;
Protocol between the Food Safety Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the General Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China on phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh grapes from the Republic of Tajikistan to the People’s Republic of China;
Plan of cooperation in the field of agriculture between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China for 2023-2025;
Framework Agreement on Educational, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and Chongqing University of Post and Telecommunications of the People’s Republic of China;
Memorandum between the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Institute of Politics and International Relations of Lanzhou University of the People’s Republic of China;
Memorandum of cooperation between the Committee on Television and Radio under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Chinese Media Corporation;
Framework Agreement between the State Unitary Enterprise “Amonatbank” of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Development Bank of China;
Agreement between the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on the establishment of a joint institute within the framework of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources;
Agreement on scientific and technical cooperation in the field of geology between the Institute of Geology, Earthquake-Resistant Construction and Seismology of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and the Xi’an Exploration Center of the Geological Survey of China;
Supplementary Agreement No. 5 between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, CNPC CENTRAL ASIA B.V and TOTAL E&P TAJIKISTAN B.V to the Production Distribution Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and KULOB PETROLEUM LIMITED;
Memorandum between the State Committee for Investments and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan and Tibet-Everest Resources Company LLC;
Memorandum between the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Center “Zhongguancun Smart City co., Ltd” and the company “Huawei Technologies Tajikistan” on the creation of a National Data Processing Center (Data Center) on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan;
Memorandum on cooperation in the use of satellite images between the Center for Innovation and Development of Science and New Technologies of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and the Center for Remote Control of the Earth of the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China.

Joint Statement of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan – key points

China firmly supports and respects Tajikistan’s open and pragmatic foreign policy.
The parties are ready to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthen friendly partnership within the framework of the “Community of a United Future of Humanity” initiative, based on the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, inviolability of borders and non-interference in internal affairs.
Both sides will continue to support each other on issues related to core interests, such as national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
Tajikistan firmly adheres to the one-China principle and confirms that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate Government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an integral part of China’s territory.
Both sides strongly oppose politicization, instrumentalization and double standards in human rights issues, as well as strongly oppose any country’s interference in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of respect for human rights.
The parties are ready to actively promote the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the coordination of the initiative with the national development strategy of Tajikistan until 2030. Tajikistan is ready to implement major strategic projects within the framework of this initiative.
Among the key areas of cooperation are science and technology, tourism, transport and communications, hydropower, information technology, ecology, industry, agriculture, food security, digital, cloud technologies, artificial intelligence and other areas for the development of green energy and energy efficiency.
The parties will promote trade in high-value-added goods, high-tech goods and contribute to the balanced development of trade between the two countries. Tajikistan is ready to expand exports of textiles, chemical products, agricultural products, non-ferrous metals and other products to China.
The parties intend to consider the implementation of cooperation projects in the fields of mechanical engineering, road construction equipment, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, light, coal, chemical and food industries, production of building materials, electricity, minerals, transport infrastructure, irrigation and land reclamation.
China is ready to explore the possibility of providing Tajikistan with concessional loans for the implementation of social and infrastructure projects.
The Chinese side is interested in organizing joint production of value-added products based on the processing of minerals and local raw materials in the free economic and industrial zones of Tajikistan.
The parties agreed to gradually take joint measures to implement China’s best practices in poverty eradication in Tajikistan.
The parties noted the great importance of the construction of the China-Tajikistan-Northern Afghanistan economic and transport corridor.
Both sides are ready to explore the possibility of opening direct flights between the capitals of the two countries and between other cities.
The parties agreed to continue improving the “green corridor” for customs clearance of agricultural products, improve the efficiency of customs clearance of goods between the two countries, as well as strengthen cooperation in mutual inspection and quarantine access of high-quality agricultural products and food.
China welcomes Tajikistan’s series of initiatives on global water issues.
Tajikistan highly appreciated the global development initiative put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, considering that this initiative has made a positive contribution to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for the period up to 2030. Both sides are ready to actively implement the initiative.
Both sides stressed the importance of further deepening cooperation between the two sides in the fight against the “three forces of evil”, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, smuggling of weapons, ammunition, explosives and cybercrime.
China supports the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Coordination Agency for Drug Control Cooperation in Dushanbe.
In order to effectively respond to modern threats and challenges, law enforcement and security agencies of the two countries will continue to conduct joint anti-terrorist exercises to enhance joint operational capabilities and jointly maintain regional stability. The sides positively assessed the level of military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries and will continue to strengthen exchanges at all levels and support the development of close military and military-technical cooperation.
Both sides are ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the field of emergency management.
The parties will continue to expand cooperation in humanitarian fields such as education, science, sports, tourism, archeology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, as well as strengthen exchanges in the media.
Tajikistan supports China’s global security initiative and is ready to carry out exchanges and cooperation with China to jointly protect peace and security throughout the world and in the region.
China has taken note of the initiative of the President of Tajikistan to create a “Security Belt around Afghanistan”.
Both sides will firmly defend the international system, the core of which is the United Nations, the international order based on international law, and the fundamental norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
The parties will continue to strengthen cooperation within the framework of international and regional mechanisms and forums, such as the United Nations and its agencies, the World Trade Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, CICA and China-Central Asia.
The parties agreed that the maintenance of peace, stability and development in Central Asia, as well as the protection and popularization of the historical and cultural heritage of China and Central Asia are of great importance for the countries of this region and the whole world. The international community should fully respect the historical and cultural traditions and regional uniqueness of Central Asia and make a joint contribution to the promotion of regional development and prosperity.
China highly appreciates the efforts of the Central Asian countries to achieve regional peace, prosperity and stability. From September 14 to 15, 2023, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon will hold the Fifth Consultative Meeting of the heads of Central Asian states in Dushanbe, China welcomes this.

The full text of the statement is here: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/zyxw/202305/t20230518_11079610.shtml

///nCa, 19 May 2023