President of the Republic of Tajikistan

Answers to questions of mass media representatives of People's Republic of China

15.09.2014 14:20

Answers to questions of the China Central Television

Question: What opportunities can provide the emergence of "economic belt" of Silk Road to Tajikistan, as a neighbor of China?

Answer: The Great Silk Road - an outstanding achievement of human civilization. Central Asia for many centuries served as a blood artery of the Silk Road. Today, our nations and our states have the opportunity to revive the Silk Road in a new quality.

For the Republic of Tajikistan, the Great Silk Road - it is not only the history and tradition, but also an inexhaustible source of political, economic and cultural relations with Asian countries, particularly with China.

We need to consistently delve into the industrial and scientific - technical cooperation, to form the common economic interests. This process has gradually been gaining momentum in the economic cooperation of the SCO member States. The "Golden link" of this process can become an "economic belt" along the Silk Road. Therefore, we will do everything to support the initiative of the President of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Xi Jinping on its creation.

Of great importance are the collective efforts of the states on revival of the Silk Road space and in terms of the development of the dialogue of civilizations, which we understand is not only and not so much as a dialogue of cultures. This formula covers the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and political fields, that is, covers all areas of human activity.

Our plans and steps of Tajikistan to revive the Great Silk Road are multidimensional. One aspect of that is that we will actively cooperate with the governments of China and other countries in the construction of new automobile roads and railway lines, to implement fully the important mission of an important transit link for China's trade with the countries of Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.

Question: What progress can bring Dushanbe SCO Summit? What significance can SCO have for its members?

Answer: The year after the Bishkek SCO summit was an exclusively responsible stage for the Organization when, under the chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan, joint reflection on the past achievements continued, work was going on defining of a new vector of its development in the coming years. All this is reflected in the Dushanbe SCO Declaration, which we adopted following the results of the present Summit.

"The Shanghai spirit" entered today into every pore of international cooperation and became its integral part. This is for the benefit of all who are sincerely interested in peace and stability, sustainable economic development of the region.

For Tajikistan, as well as for all the states of Central Asia, with the advent of the SCO conditions have improved for a safe and sustainable development, a serious impetus has been given to multilateral economic cooperation.

From the moment of the establishment of the SCO we managed to preserve the "Shanghai spirit", to bring our Organization in the number of authoritative and influential institutions in the world. SCO has become a multi-functional and effective mechanism for regional cooperation. At the same time, expectations of the citizens of the Member States of the Organization have increased. Our common goals in the near future are to make everything in order for SCO to effectively accomplish its goals and objectives to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the entire Eurasian space.

At the Dushanbe Summit, we charged the Council of Foreign Ministers of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to organize the work on completion of coordination of the project of Strategy of development of SCO till 2025, and to submit it for consideration of the next meeting of the SCO Heads of States Council. After its adoption in 2015 the Organization will enter into a new stage. In many ways, it will be associated with near-term admission of new members in the SCO. In fact, we are on the threshold of not only quantitative, but also qualitative growth of the Organization.

Answers to questions of the magazine «Global People» 

Question: Mr. President, during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Mr. Wang you said that the relations between heads of the two countries reached the best mutual trust, friendship and mutual aid of the parties have been strengthened. Please, tell us about your relationship with the President of China, Mr. Xi Jinping and the previous leaders of China. How do you assess the personality of China’s President Mr Xi Jinping and previous leaders of China?

Answer: After gaining state independence, the Republic of Tajikistan started building its relations with China, as they say, "from scratch". Today, our bilateral relations came to the level of strategic partnership, and bilateral trade three years ago stepped over two billion USD bar.

All this was made possible by the fact that for 22 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states personal friendship, openness and full mutual trust have become the norm in the relations of their leaders.

It is not coincidence that as the head of state I paid my first official foreign visit, outside the former Soviet Union, to China in March 1993. After my re-election as President of the Republic of Tajikistan in November 2006, my first official foreign visit was also carried out to the Celestial Kingdom.

With great warmth, I remember our numerous meetings both in China and here in Tajikistan, with former Presidents of China, my friends Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, who made a lot of things for the establishment and development of relations between the two countries, for the successful solutions to the complex border problem, which we inherited from historical past.

I am deeply grateful to the acting Chinese President Mr Xi Jinping that he kindly responded to my invitation to pay a state visit to Tajikistan and made ​​a great contribution to the work of the Council of Heads of SCO member states. It is one more bright illustration of how strong bonds of friendship and good neighborliness connect two of our fraternal peoples and states.

My personal acquaintance with Mr. President originates from May 2013. Before Dushanbe, we met three times - in Beijing, Shanghai and Bishkek. I have the feeling that personal friendship arises between us. I see in the person of Mr. President a splendid and highly talented person, one of the most respected leaders in the modern world, a strong and purposeful leader of China, sincerely committed to the objectives of strengthening and developing of bilateral relations.

I am convinced that the first visit of Mr. Xi Jinping to Tajikistan will give a new powerful impetus to the development of the strategic partnership between our countries.

Question: SCO was established in 2001. Mr. President, as a witness and participant in the development of this Organization, how do you assess its historical significance and the current mission? Have there been any unforgettable events for you in the previous SCO Summits?

Answer: Indeed, Tajikistan was at the origins of SCO. It was stated, as is known, on the transformation of the "Shanghai Five" into an international organization in Dushanbe Summit of Heads of State of the Shanghai process in July 2000.

SCO - a fundamentally new system of sub-regional cooperation. Our organization has established itself as an integral part of the global security system. But its value consists not only in that. SCO is a new view on the regional organization, its place in today's rapidly changing world, where issues of politics, security, economy, culture and education are intertwined together. SCO, without exaggeration, has opened a new stage in the geopolitical relationship "East - West".

It is very important that, in addition to the joint fight against the "three evils" and drug trafficking, practical steps are taken within our organization to develop multilateral economic cooperation. China, for example, allocates funds for the implementation of major national and regional business projects within the "Shanghai" space.

As for my unforgettable memories of previous SCO summits, I must say that I still have good memories of all our summits. Each of them was original, unique, productive and instructive. But the most intense good feelings that I have retained, of course, are on the first SCO Summit in Shanghai as of June 2001, when we - the heads of state - proclaimed the Declaration on the Establishment of the Organization.

Question: The Silk Road is a historical path connecting friendly relations of China and other Eurasian countries. 

Mr. President, in the recent past, you noted that Tajikistan supports the creation of an "economic zone" Silk Road. Please, tell us what are specific plans and what measures are being taken in this direction by Tajikistan? How do you understand and assess "Silk Road"?

Answer: The Great Silk Road - an outstanding achievement of human civilization. Central Asia for many centuries served as a blood artery of the Silk Road. Today, our nations have the opportunity to revive the Silk Road in a new way. 

For the Republic of Tajikistan The Great Silk Road - it is not only the history and tradition, but also an inexhaustible source of political, economic and cultural relations with Asian countries, particularly with China.

At this stage, we need to consistently go to the industrial and scientific - technical cooperation, to form common economic interests. This process has gradually been gaining momentum in the economic cooperation of countries of the SCO member States. "Golden link" of this process can become an "economic zone" along the Silk Road. Therefore, we will do everything to support the initiative of the President of China Mr. Xi Jinping on its creation.

Of great importance are the collective efforts of the states on revival of the Silk Road space and in terms of the development of the dialogue of civilizations, which we understand is not only and not so much as a dialogue of cultures. This formula covers the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and political fields, that is, covers all areas of human activity.

As for our plans and steps of Tajikistan to revive the Great Silk Road, they are multidimensional. One aspect is that we will actively cooperate with the governments of China and other countries in the construction of new roads and railway lines, to implement fully the important mission of an important transit link for China's trade with the countries of Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.

Answers to questions of the Kazakh Branch of the newspaper "People's Daily"

Question: Last year, Heads of the two countries announced about the establishment of strategic partnership between China and Tajikistan, which opened a new stage of all-round rapid development of the Tajik-Chinese relations. Mr. President, how do you assess the development of bilateral relations between Tajikistan and China?

Answer: We highly appreciate the relationship with China and we value them. For our friendly country and good-neighborly relations with its great neighbor - China has been since the first days of independence and remains a singular vector of foreign policy, its absolute priority. The Republic of Tajikistan will take all efforts for further strengthening and development of the strategic partnership with China and to contribute to their continued enrichment and development.

Question: Mr. President, what are your hopes for the future of relations between Tajikistan and China? What do you think, what are the most appropriate, the best ways to develop the strategic partnership between the two countries? In what else directions, it is possible to strengthen the Tajik-Chinese cooperation?

Answer: In the framework of the first state visit of the President of the People's Republic of China Mr. Xi Jinping it is expected to sign a joint declaration on deepening of bilateral strategic partnership and adoption of bilateral cooperation program until 2020. In the text of these documents, which have open character and will be available to the press, there is a clear and specific answer to your question.

I hope that upon practical implementation of these important documents we will be able to fully use all advantages of good neighborliness and to provide significant further growth of bilateral trade, the steady growth of the investment component of economic cooperation, to strengthen the humanitarian aspect of our interaction, so - further strengthen the foundation of long-lasting friendship between Tajikistan and China, and our peoples.

Question: What do you expect from the SCO summit, which takes place in your country? How do you assess the contribution of the SCO in maintaining peace and stability in the region?

Answer: Each SCO Summit is a grand event in the international arena. Dushanbe Summit is no exception. Not incidentally about 500 journalists arrived for its coverage.  The 14th summit of the SCO will open a new chapter in the development of the Organization. Foremost, goes about adoption of legal documents, open up the prospect for admission of new Member States to the SCO. In fact, we are on the threshold of not only quantitative, but also qualitative growth of the SCO.

In the new, rapidly changing international situation, SCO must demonstrate the ability to adapt quickly, to respond quickly to ever-challenging task of preserving and strengthening of regional peace and stability.

We believe that the stronger our interaction and cooperation in the framework of the SCO, the safer we will be able to defend national sovereignty and security, self-chosen path of development.
 

Question: Mr. President, in your speech at the CICA Member States summit, which took place in May this year in Shanghai, you declared that you will comprehensively support the initiative of creation of an "economic zone of the Silk Road." How do you rate this economic zone in terms of the feasibility and prospects? What role will be taken by Tajikistan in the realization of this initiative?

Answer: The Great Silk Road - an outstanding achievement of civilization. Central Asia through many centuries served as a blood artery of an ancient Silk Road. Today, our two countries have the opportunity to revive the Silk Road in a new way.

For modern Tajikistan, Great Silk Road - not only the history and tradition, but also an inexhaustible source of friendly political, economic and cultural relations with Asian countries, particularly with China.

We need to consistently go to the industrial and scientific - technical cooperation, to form common economic interests. This process has gradually been gaining momentum in the economic cooperation of SCO member states. "Golden link" of this process can become an economic belt along the Silk Road. Therefore, we will do everything to support the initiative of the President of China Mr. Xi Jinping on its formation.

The overwhelming importance of the collective effort to revive the space of the Silk Road, and in terms of the dialogue of civilizations, which we understand not only and not so much as a dialogue of cultures. This formula covers the development of equal mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and political fields, that is, covers all areas of human activity.

With regards to the special role of Tajikistan in the revival of the Silk Road, it has many aspects. One aspect is that we will actively cooperate with the governments of China and other countries in the construction of new roads and rail routes, to implement fully the important mission of an important transit link in China's trade with the countries of Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.

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