Speaking at the 11th China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum in Yinchuan, China, Tajikistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Sulaymon Ziyozoda noted that Chinese investment in Tajikistan's economy from 2007 to 2023 exceeded US$4 billion, with more than US$2.5 billion of that in direct investments, Xinhua reported on October 28.
Tajik official reportedly highlighted that China is one of Tajikistan's most significant trading partners, adding that over 700 Chinese-funded companies are currently operating in the country.
“Major projects of national and regional importance are being implemented in Tajikistan with the participation of Chinese enterprises. These projects serve as a clear example not only of our productive partnership but also Tajikistan-China friendship growing stronger day by day,” Ziyozoda was quoted as saying.
The State Council of the People’s Republic of China says China and Central Asian countries signed 35 cooperation agreements involving trade, agriculture and sister cities worth 11.2 billion yuan (US$1.6 billion) at the forum, which concluded in Yinchuan in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region on Sunday.
The forum also announced the Yinchuan Initiative, calling for more exchanges and cooperation in green development, smart agriculture, e-commerce and people-to-people exchanges.
Over the past decade, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have reportedly played an active role in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, turning Central Asia into a demonstration zone for Belt and Road cooperation.
The 11th China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum was held in Yinchuan, Ningxia on October 25-28. This forum was co-hosted by the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission (GNFCC) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the People’s Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region under the theme of “Promoting Green Development and Building a Common Home.”
Over 300 people attended the forum, including Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov, Tajik Deputy Prime Minister Sulaymon Ziyozoda, the First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament of Uzbekistan Akmal Saidov, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Executive Director of the Secretariat of the China-Central Asia Cooperation Mechanism Wu Yingqin and representatives from the government, localities, business community, friendly groups and media of China and the five Central Asian countries and diplomatic envoys in China.
