China-Tajikistan Economic Cooperation Ushers in New Chapter – CGTN

Editor’s note: Liu Chang is an assistant researcher with the Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; and Long Chen is an assistant research fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. The article reflects the authors’ opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

A street view in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, June 16, 2019./ CFP

If you had been to Dushanbe a few years ago, you would be surprised to come back to this city. Many new and beautiful buildings have appeared on both sides of the street, tall trees, blooming flowers, and construction sites can be seen everywhere. From a high viewpoint, you can see the Tajik flag fluttering in the wind on the huge flagpole. You can feel that this city is developing rapidly with a thriving atmosphere.

Tajikistan’s economic achievements are the fundamental reason why Dushanbe is becoming more beautiful. In 2022 and 2023, Tajikistan’s GDP growth rate was 8 percent and 8.3 percent respectively. The Eurasian Development Bank predicts that in 2024, Tajikistan’s economic growth rate is expected to reach 8 percent, making it the fastest growing country among the member countries of Eurasian Development Bank. This “mountain country” is striding confidently along its own path of modernization.

The deepening economic cooperation between China and Tajikistan is an important source of confidence for Tajikistan. Tajikistan is among the first countries to sign a memorandum of cooperation with China on the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The two sides actively promote the integration of Tajikistan’s national development strategy with the BRI, and have implemented a number of important assistance and cooperation projects in the fields of transportation, energy, industry, etc. In 2023, bilateral trade between China and Tajikistan was nearly $4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 53.5 percent. After the 2024 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is set to open a new chapter.

A car drives past a golden monument of three sheeps in Tajikistan March 27, 2024./ CFP

First is the accelerated development of China-Tajikistan trade cooperation. From 2013 to 2023, trade between China and Tajikistan has doubled. China has become the largest source of investment for Tajikistan and one of its most important trading partners. With the gradual emergence of the results of previous cooperation and the rapid development of China-Tajikistan relations, China-Tajikistan economic and trade cooperation has accelerated. At present, China is working towards the goal of becoming Tajikistan’s largest trading partner. China is promoting the expansion of Tajikistan’s imports of high-quality agricultural products, encouraging Chinese companies to increase investment in Tajikistan, continuously optimizing investment and financing cooperation forms, and accelerating the signing of cooperation documents such as e-commerce, key minerals, and new energy investment.

The second is in empowering Tajikistan’s economic transformation. Previously, China and Tajikistan have cooperated on a series of important projects, which have effectively improved the living standards of Tajikistan people, enhanced Tajikistan’s infrastructure construction, and helped Tajikistan achieve independent production in areas such as cement. Today, Tajikistan is stepping up its efforts to promote the transformation of its economic structure. The Tajikistan government is set to accelerate the country’s industrialization transformation and give full play to the important role of the industrial sector in economic development. There is broad room for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of green development, digital economy, new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence, etc.

At present, China is comprehensively promoting Chinese-style modernization, and Tajikistan is also at a critical moment of national development. China and Tajikistan have an increasing consensus on modernization, and their interests continue to deepen and intertwine. They are long-term supporters of each other’s development path. Looking to the future, the two countries will continue to stride forward on the road of building a community of shared future for China and Tajikistan.