Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Thursday night, commencing his state visit to the country following a busy schedule at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

CGTN Stringer in Tajikistan conducted interviews with local residents to gather their views on Xi's visit and China-Tajikistan relations. Rustamjon Yuldashev, a museum director, welcomed Xi's arrival and called the president a "dear guest." Shavkat Sharipov, a professor at Khujand State University, said that the Chinese president's visit to Tajikistan will be a new milestone in strengthening the economic, trade, cultural and scientific ties between the two countries.