China-Tajikistan BRI cooperation boosts Tajik economy, fortifies ties

In downtown Dushanbe, two brand-new white buildings, characterized by a blend of classical European architecture, Islamic culture and modern designs, stand tall along Rudaki Avenue. The two buildings, intended for Tajikistan's government and parliament, symbolize deepened China-Tajikistan political trust and economic cooperation.

The grant aid construction agreement, with no strings attached, was signed in September 2017 during Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's state visit to Beijing. Two years later, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Tajikistan, the two leaders jointly witnessed the unveiling of the project models.

Talking about Xi's visit to the country in July, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that China is looking forward to using the visit as an opportunity to further strengthen political trust, deepen high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and enhance understanding between the peoples of both countries.

Tajikistan was one of the first countries to support the BRI. In 2014, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on building the Silk Road Economic Belt, and in 2016, Tajikistan enacted its national development strategy, which is deeply connected with the BRI.

In recent years, BRI cooperation between the two countries has produced significant results, including the development of thermal power plants, power grids and transportation infrastructure, which have effectively contributed to improving Tajikistan's vital infrastructure, creating jobs and fostering socio-economic growth.

As an inland country, Tajikistan pays great importance to strengthening its transport infrastructure. Through BRI cooperation with China, several landmark transport projects have been completed in Tajikistan, including the Dushanbe-Chanak Highway and the Vahdat-Yavan railway tunnel, which connected the previously separated railways in southern and northern Tajikistan and became a crucial part of the railway network linking China, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

Experts say that with financial and technical assistance from China, Tajikistan has developed into an international transport corridor, which will help it integrate further into global supply chains.

"Countries in the Central Asian region have made full use of their geographical advantages and deeply participated in international trade through trans-Central Asian transport routes, thus achieving steady economic development," said Rashid Alimov, former secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

China's economic cooperation with Tajikistan goes beyond transportation and includes investments in agriculture, mining, textiles, telecommunications and cement. These investments have not only brought technology to the country but also helped establish industry standards, create jobs and promote industrialization.

For instance, a Chinese company called Huaxin Cement has built multiple cement factories in Tajikistan, helping transform the country from a cement importer to an exporter. Previously, Tajikistan imported cement from Pakistan and Kazakhstan, but now it exports cement to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Xu Gang, vice president of Huaxin Cement, stated that the company's production line in Tajikistan utilizes the "most advanced, environmentally friendly and efficient" technology and craft. "To maintain competitiveness in overseas investment, the key is to have a cost advantage. If you use outdated technology and techniques that will become obsolete in a few years, it's certainly not in the long-term interests of the enterprise," said Xu.

Tajik statistics indicate that in 2022, Tajikistan attracted $257 million of Chinese investment, including $192 million of direct investment, accounting for 74 percent of the total foreign direct investment in Tajikistan in the same period.

China's increasingly amicable ties with Tajikistan have also been demonstrated through cultural and educational exchanges. Recent years have witnessed an increasing number of Tajik students in the country's Confucius Institutes or in China. The first Luban Workshop in Central Asia has been operating in Dushanbe for two years, grooming many talents for Tajikistan's vocational education and the country's industrialization.

"Tajikistan and China are the closest neighbors and partners," said Qanoatullo Saifulloev, deputy director of the state-run Khovar News Agency, adding that he believes Xi's state visit to his country will promote the continued development of bilateral relations and benefit the two peoples.