Joint Statement of China-Central Asia Summit, People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Tajikistan (full text)
Xinhua News Agency, Xi ‘an, May 18th
Joint statement of People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Tajikistan
1. At the invitation of the Supreme Leader of President People’s Republic of China (PRC), President emomali rakhmon of the Republic of Tajikistan paid a state visit to People’s Republic of China (PRC) from May 16 to 19, 2023. The two heads of state held talks in a cordial and friendly atmosphere and exchanged in-depth views on mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and international and regional issues of common concern.
二、双方高度评价两国建交31年来各领域合作取得的丰硕成果,一致认为,双方签署的各联合声明、联合宣言和条约为两国关系发展奠定了坚实的法律基础。双方将在相互尊重、睦邻友好、同舟共济、互利共赢原则指引下,在遵守国际法准则和尊重彼此利益的原则基础上,继续深化政治互信,拓展务实合作,夯实传统友谊。基于两国高水平合作和深化双边关系的共同愿望,双方致力于构建世代友好、休戚与共、互利共赢的命运共同体。
三、双方强调,中塔正处于国家发展和民族复兴的关键时期。塔方热烈祝贺中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会取得圆满成功、最高领袖主席当选连任中共中央总书记和国家主席,高度评价近10年中国经济社会发展取得的伟大成就。塔方高度评价中国在社会主义现代化国家建设和中华民族伟大复兴事业中取得的历史成就,坚信在以最高领袖同志为核心的中共中央坚强领导下,中国到2035年基本实现社会主义现代化、到本世纪中叶建成富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国的目标一定会实现。
China spoke highly of Tajikistan’s fruitful achievements in political and socio-economic reform and the implementation of Tajikistan’s national development strategy before 2030 under the leadership of President emomali rakhmon. In order to develop friendly relations with other countries, the Republic of Tajikistan has implemented a peaceful and selfless opening policy based on mutual respect, equality and mutually beneficial cooperation since its independence, and has made great achievements. China firmly supports and respects Tajikistan’s open and pragmatic foreign policy.
4. The two sides are willing to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthen friendly partnership under the framework of the Community of Human Destiny initiative and on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, inviolability of borders and non-interference in internal affairs.
The two sides will continue to support each other on issues involving core interests such as national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
Tajikistan firmly abides by the one-China principle, and reiterates that the government of People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan Province is an inalienable part of China. Tajikistan resolutely opposes any form of "Taiwan independence", reiterates that it will not engage in any form of official exchanges with Taiwan Province, and supports all efforts made by the China government to achieve national reunification.
The two sides resolutely oppose politicization, instrumentalization and double standards of human rights issues, and resolutely oppose any country interfering in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.
5. Both sides agreed that the head of state diplomacy has played an important strategic leading role in promoting China-Tajikistan comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides will maintain the good momentum of high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels, exchange views on major issues in China-Tajikistan relations and the international and regional situation in a timely manner, continuously strengthen strategic communication and enhance strategic and political mutual trust.
6. Both sides agreed that legislative exchanges are an important part of China-Tajikistan relations, and strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation between legislative bodies will inject new impetus into deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries and enhancing mutual understanding and trust. The two sides support strengthening the cooperation between the National People’s Congress of China and the Parliament of Tajikistan, and advocate continuing to promote cooperation between legislative bodies through friendly groups and other channels.
7. The two sides are willing to actively promote the joint construction of the "Belt and Road Initiative" and the docking of Tajikistan’s national development strategy before 2030. Tajikistan emphasized that 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative proposed by Chairman of the Supreme Leader, and Tajikistan expressed its heartfelt congratulations. The two sides pointed out that Tajikistan was one of the first countries to support this global initiative and an active participant in it. Tajikistan is willing to implement major strategic projects under this initiative.
In order to ensure the steady social and economic development of the two countries, the two sides will fully implement the existing bilateral documents and the consensus reached, take measures according to their own laws to ensure the safe and stable operation of cooperation projects, and promote cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, finance, science and technology, tourism, transportation and communication, hydropower, information technology, ecology, humanities, industry, agriculture, food security, digital, cloud technology and artificial intelligence under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
8. The two sides will take measures to further expand the scale of bilateral trade, enrich the types of trade, tap the trade potential, deepen cooperation under the framework of "Silk Road E-commerce" and explore new opportunities for expanding trade and innovation cooperation between the two countries. The two sides will promote the trade of high value-added and high-tech commodities and promote the balanced development of trade between the two countries. Tajikistan is willing to expand its exports of textiles, chemicals, agriculture, non-ferrous metals and other products to China. The two sides agreed to speed up the quarantine access of Tajikistan’s high-quality agricultural products to China.
The two sides are willing to study and implement cooperative projects in machinery manufacturing, road construction technology, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, light industry, coal, chemical and food industries, building materials production, electricity, mineral resources, transportation infrastructure, irrigation and soil improvement, agricultural infrastructure and other social fields.
China is willing to support Tajikistan in holding international activities in the fields of economy, trade, industrial energy, transportation, logistics and humanities.
The two sides emphasized the importance of effectively implementing the Outline of China-Tajikistan Cooperation Plan signed in 2017.
Tajikistan is willing to participate in international trade and investment activities such as the International Import Expo, the Import and Export Commodities Fair and the China-Asia-Europe Expo to be held in China in 2023.
The two sides spoke highly of the overall coordination role played by the China-Tajikistan Intergovernmental Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee and its sub-committee on economic and trade cooperation in Xinjiang-Tajikistan neighboring areas in deepening pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, and are willing to further play the role of the Committee.
9. The two sides stressed the importance of further deepening industrial cooperation and are willing to hold a meeting of the working group on investment cooperation in due course.
China is willing to study providing preferential loans to Tajikistan for the implementation of social and infrastructure projects.
China is willing to organize cooperation in processing local mineral resources and producing high value-added products in Tazi Free Economic Industrial Zone.
X. The two sides will deepen cooperation, promote agricultural modernization in Tajikistan, promote research and processing of crops planted throughout the year, and jointly ensure food security. The two sides pointed out that it is necessary to strengthen the work of the China-Tajikistan Agricultural Cooperation Committee, and believed that the Action Plan for Cooperation in the Agricultural Field for 2023-2025 would become a road map for the development of agricultural cooperation between the two countries.
The two sides emphasized that China has rich experience in poverty eradication, and agreed to take joint measures step by step to introduce China’s advanced experience in poverty alleviation to Tajikistan, so as to contribute to the sustainable development of Tajikistan.
11. The two sides stressed that it is of great significance to strengthen the interconnection of regional transportation infrastructure. The two sides will continue to make efforts to promote the construction of railway and highway traffic corridors. China has taken note of Tajikistan’s proposal to promote the modernization of China-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan highway and give full play to the potential of the logistics center in curia to develop the "China-Tajikistan-Ukraine-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey" multimodal transport corridor. The two sides pointed out that the construction of China-Tajikistan-northern Afghanistan economic and traffic corridor is of great significance. The two sides stressed that it is very important to keep the Calassou-Kuolemai port open and uninterrupted throughout the year. The two sides are willing to study the highway construction project from Varshez to Calassou-Kulemai Port in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Prefecture and the modernization of the port under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The two sides are willing to strengthen cooperation in the aviation field and study the opening of direct flights between the two capitals and more cities.
The two sides agreed to continue to improve the "green channel" for agricultural products clearance, improve the efficiency of goods clearance between the two countries, and strengthen mutual inspection and quarantine cooperation for high-quality agricultural products and food.
The two sides will take necessary measures to optimize transit inspection, transit procedures for drivers and flight attendants.
Both sides are willing to create favorable conditions for international roads and multimodal transport.
12. The Tajik side spoke highly of China’s optimization and adjustment of epidemic prevention and control policies according to the situation, believing that this has created better conditions for safe, healthy and orderly exchanges between Chinese and foreign personnel and brought more benefits to global economic development. The two sides resolutely oppose politicizing the issue of epidemic situation and virus traceability.
The two sides have accumulated rich experience in effective cooperation in response to the COVID-19 epidemic and are willing to continue to strengthen coordination on the fight against infectious diseases.
13. China welcomes the series of initiatives of President emomali rakhmon of the Republic of Tajikistan on global water issues, and notes the success of the second high-level conference on "Water for Sustainable Development" for the Decade of 2018-2028. China spoke highly of the successful hosting of the United Nations Water Conference by the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in new york from March 22 to 24, 2023, and noted the successful adoption of the special resolution proposed by the Republic of Tajikistan to the United Nations General Assembly on designating 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Protection.
Tajikistan spoke highly of the global development initiative put forward by the supreme leader of president, China, and believed that the initiative has made positive contributions to the realization of the United Nations sustainable development goals in 2030. Both sides are willing to actively implement this initiative.
Tajikistan supports China’s global civilization initiative and is willing to work with China to promote global civilization exchanges and mutual learning.
China has taken note of the initiative of President emomali rakhmon of the Republic of Tajikistan to formulate and adopt the Economic Development Strategy of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to 2030, which aims to create conditions for promoting strategic progress in SCO economic cooperation and improve people’s living standards.
14. The two sides stressed that it is of great significance to further deepen their cooperation in combating the "three forces", illegal drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, smuggling of weapons, ammunition and explosives, and cybercrime. The two sides will continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation in safeguarding international information security, consolidating border security and cracking down on economic crimes.
China has taken note of the high-level international conference "Dushanbe Process" held by the Republic of Tajikistan and the high-level conference "International and regional security and border control cooperation to combat terrorism and prevent terrorists from escaping" jointly held with the United Nations in Dushanbe on October 18 and 19, 2022, making efforts to promote multilateral cooperation in combating terrorism and terrorist financing in Central Asia.
China supports the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s anti-drug cooperation coordination body in Dushanbe.
In order to effectively cope with modern threats and challenges, the law enforcement and security departments of the two countries will continue to conduct joint anti-terrorism exercises, improve their joint operational capabilities and jointly safeguard regional stability. The two sides positively evaluated the level of military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries, and will continue to strengthen exchanges at all levels and support close military and military-technical cooperation.
The two sides are willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in emergency management and carry out pragmatic cooperation in the fields of natural disaster prevention, production safety and emergency rescue.
The two sides will deepen cooperation in the judicial field and promote mutual visits of representatives of procuratorial organs and cooperation in personnel training.
15. The two sides will continue to expand cooperation in the humanities fields such as education, science, sports, tourism, archaeology, health and pharmacy, and strengthen exchanges between the media, scientific institutions and friendship associations. The two sides are willing to hold cultural days in the capitals of the two countries and other cities, and are willing to study the establishment of cultural centers on the basis of reciprocity.
16. The two sides pointed out that scientific and technological cooperation is of great significance to the implementation of joint basic and applied research projects with priority directions. The two sides are willing to carry out high-tech and innovative cooperation.
The two sides affirmed the necessity of strengthening cooperation in establishing a mechanism for building the "Digital Silk Road", and are willing to jointly promote digital economic cooperation and encourage enterprises and parks of the two countries to strengthen cooperation in the fields of digital trade, artificial intelligence, big data, e-government and blockchain. Tajikistan is willing to continue to cooperate with large enterprises in China, introduce modern technology and solutions, and develop high-speed Internet and mobile communication.
China is willing to carry out tourism cooperation with Tajikistan, resume tourism exchanges according to the epidemic situation, and create conditions for the development of tourism. China supports Tajikistan to carry out tourism promotion activities in China. Tajikistan actively supports the development of joint tourist routes and the construction of hotels and restaurants, and is willing to strengthen cooperation in personnel training in this field.
The two sides will expand and deepen cooperation in the field of health and strengthen the exchange mechanism of scientific and practical experience between medical institutions, including telemedicine and traditional medicine.
The two sides believe that it is of great significance to carry out research and cooperation on environmental protection issues such as reducing the negative impact of climate change and maintaining biodiversity, as well as the application of green and efficient energy technologies.
The two sides stressed the importance of promoting exchanges and cooperation between local and sister cities of the two countries, and will promote more places to establish friendly relations between provinces, prefectures and cities.
The two sides spoke highly of the important role played by the Confucius Institute at Tajikistan University for Nationalities and the Confucius Institute at Tajikistan Institute of Metallurgy in learning the language and culture of China. China has taken note of Tajikistan’s proposal to establish a Confucius Institute in Khatlon. Both sides expressed satisfaction with working in the Taruban workshop.
The two sides are willing to strengthen cooperation in sports.
17. The two sides pointed out that strengthening international cooperation is an important manifestation of the high-level strategic partnership and mutual trust between the two countries. Tajikistan supports China’s global security initiative and is willing to carry out exchanges and cooperation with China to jointly safeguard world and regional peace and security.
China has taken note of the initiative of the President of Tajikistan to establish a "security belt around Afghanistan".
The two sides will firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at the core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
The two sides will continue to strengthen cooperation under international and regional mechanisms and forums such as the United Nations and its agencies, the World Trade Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, AsiaInfo and China-Central Asia.
The two sides will work together to consolidate the status of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a prestigious and influential multilateral organization, safeguard peace, security and stability in Europe and Asia, jointly respond to new threats and challenges, and strengthen interconnection, economic, trade and cultural cooperation among member States.
Both sides agreed that maintaining peace, stability and development in Central Asia, and protecting and promoting the historical and cultural heritage of China and Central Asia are of great significance to countries in the region and even the whole world. The international community should fully respect the historical and cultural traditions and regional uniqueness of Central Asia and make joint contributions to promoting regional development and prosperity.
China highly values the efforts made by Central Asian countries to achieve regional peace, prosperity and stability. On September 14th and 15th, 2023, Tajik President rakhmon will host the Fifth Consultation Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State in Dushanbe. China welcomes this.
The two sides support the establishment of the China-Central Asia summit meeting mechanism, and believe that this new form of multilateral cooperation will help China deepen cooperation with Central Asian countries on the basis of the principles of mutual respect, good neighborliness, mutual help and mutual benefit, and jointly safeguard regional peace, security and sustainable development.
Tajikistan spoke highly of the first China-Central Asia Summit held in Xi ‘an, China, and China’s efforts to prepare for the summit, stressing the importance of the consensus reached at this summit.
18. President rakhmon expressed heartfelt thanks to the Chairman of the Supreme Leader and the people of China for their warm and friendly reception, and invited the Chairman of the Supreme Leader to pay another state visit to Tajikistan at a convenient time for both sides.
President People’s Republic of China (PRC) President of the Republic of Tajikistan
Supreme Leader emomali rakhmon
Xi ‘an, May 18th, 2023













