Dear participants!Ladies and Gentlemen!First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to organizers for the invitation, warm welcome, high-level organization and creating a platform for an open dialogue.Quite rightly about the current state of bilateral relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the People’s Republic of China and the international authority of China during his speech at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Founder of Peace and National Unity, the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon stated: “We believe that our great neighbor, China, is a reliable friend and sincere partner and we express satisfaction with its sustainable development. We are witnessing the intensive development of China in all areas of the economy and public life, strengthening the country’s authority in the international arena.”I should emphasize that the past 70 years for the Chinese people have been 70 years to overcome difficulties and forge ahead, 70 years for the rebirth of the Chinese nation, and 70 years for the deep integration and common development of China and the world.Over the past 70 years, the aggregate capacity of the China has steadily strengthened, its economic development has developed rapidly, and its international status has improved significantly. China has not only been widely recognized by the international community for its development achievements, but also its open and inclusive development concept, as well as a mutually beneficial model of cooperation, are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. As China opens its doors wider, China’s circle of friends in the world is also growing.Over the past 70 years, China, after going through great trials, has entered the trajectory of sustainable and intensive development.The 70 years that have passed since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China can be safely called successful, since these are 70 years of the active and constructive socio-economic development of the state, based on openness with the goal of creating the Community with a shared future for mankind.We should note that Chairman Xi Jinping at the «One Belt and One Road» Forum on International Cooperation, the Boaos Asian Forum and other important events repeatedly emphasized: “China’s open doors will not be closed, but will open even wider.” China will continue to demonstrate its responsibility as a great power, adhere to the reform of openness and continue to contribute to China’s wisdom and China’s program to promote world peace, development and shared prosperity.Today, China, deservedly, is one of the most respected and influential states in the world, and its economy is the second most powerful in the world. In just a short seventy-year historical period, the people of China have achieved tremendous results, and the state is currently one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, while demonstrating the highest and most stable economic growth in the world. At the same time, the diplomacy of China deserves special attention, the reason for this is the foreign policy model pursued by official Beijing, building in strict accordance with the fundamental principles of the United Nations.China has become the largest industrial country, the largest trader of goods and the largest foreign exchange reserve country in the world, and the output of more than 200 kinds of industrial products ranks first in the world. According to the World Investment Report 2019 issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, with the continuous relaxation of market access and the continuous optimization of the investment environment, China has become the second largest foreign capital inflow country in the world for two years in a row. 129 Chinese companies made the Fortune 500 list in 2019.It is important to note that from the first days, the PRC adheres to a peace-loving policy in international relations, toughly opposing any manifestation of hegemony and expansion. Through peaceful development and coexistence, China successfully implements its diplomacy in all corners of our planet, the foundation of which since 1953 has been formed by the five principles of peaceful coexistence.Over the past 70 years, from the “five principles of peaceful coexistence” to the “concept of relations: kindness, sincerity, mutually beneficial and inclusive”, the diplomatic concept of China has also constantly changed and developed, gradually gaining more and more recognition in the world.In the process of development and growth, China invariably adheres to the means of peaceful development, applies the concept of win-win cooperation, firmly supports the multilateral trading system and an open global economy, and actively contributes to the reform of the global governance system, the creation of a new type of international relations and the Community with a shared future for mankind. Today, the joint construction of “One Belt and One Road” has become a platform for the development of cooperation, causing great interest in the world, and the concept of the Community with a shared future for mankind has been included in a number of United Nations resolutions.Today, China will continue to demonstrate its responsibility as a great power, practice the Diplomatic Idea of Xi Jinping, support the diplomatic concept of “kindness, sincerity, mutually beneficial and inclusive” relations and work with other states in the world in search of common prosperity and development.The Republic of Tajikistan, being a neighboring country of great China, fully feels the principles of Beijing’s peace-loving policy, and the relations between Tajikistan and China have ancient historical roots.The spiritual history of the inter-civilizational interaction between Tajikistan and China today is experiencing a “rebirth”. The New Great Silk Road, about which the President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon clearly and convincingly wrote in his book Tajiks in the Mirror of the History, is currently being implemented not only in transport and economics, but also in the formation of a large Tajik-Chinese cultural project, the construction of a kind of “Humanitarian bridge” connecting the two civilizations. The traditional layer of intercultural dialogue between Tajiks and Chinese, dating back to antiquity.The modern layer of intercultural Tajik-Chinese interaction, which has absorbed traditional values and historical experience, can conditionally be presented as a fairly coherent system of institutional and spiritual components and projects that are organically integrated into the Tajik-Chinese strategic partnership.It is in the interests of both parties to enhance the role of cultural and humanitarian ties as a bridge between two neighboring peoples, contributing to the deepening of mutual understanding and the development of traditional friendship.Thus, in the spheres of culture and inter-civilizational dialogue, new projects and directions appear. There is a mutual popularization of folk art, cinema, visual arts, the development of education, including the study of the Chinese language in Tajikistan and Tajik in China, and much more.As you may know, the dialogue of cultures has its own specific set of facilities and “tools.” Sometimes its language is much stronger and more effective than political and economic vocabulary. This feature is practically confirmed today by the interaction of cultures of two independent states - Tajikistan and China.For twenty-eight years, Tajikistan and China - neighboring states - have traveled a path equal to a century. The key role was played by the leaders of Tajikistan and China, who saw mutual benefit in building mutually respectful, trusting, good-neighborly relations that meet fundamental national interests. As a result of joint efforts, the beginning of the third decade after the establishment of diplomatic relations was marked by their launch into a new orbit - the orbit of strategic partnership.But most importantly, both side see each other as good neighbors and reliable friends, stable and economically developed partners, confidently building a joint prosperous future.It should be noted that the main areas of bilateral cooperation are political, economic, trade and cultural-humanitarian spheres. Both parties carry out effective cooperation in the international arena and are members of authoritative international organizations, including the UN, SCO and CICA, etc.Today, when mankind has faced a lot of acute challenges and threats in the face of international terrorism, drug trafficking, Tajikistan and Chinese collective security cooperation, foreign policy ideas, concepts and peaceful approaches are becoming even more relevant and in demand, as they contain fundamental principles that allow solving the existing problems peacefully international relations.Just in such a difficult period of the development of world politics, taking into account new global realities, the Chinese initiative “One Belt, One Road” is timely and in demand, as it reflects and unites of the economic interests of many countries, including Central Asian states.Indeed, the main goal of the Initiative is to stimulate common development and prosperity, based on the principles of sharing the advantages of each side for the common good of all states along the Silk Road.The political mutual trust between our two countries has reached an unprecedented high level. Under the wise leadership of President of the Tajikistan His Excellency, Emomali Rahmon and the Chairman of China His Excellency, Xi Jinping in relations between Tajikistan and China was opened a new chapter in history.The Chinese side highly appreciates the tremendous successes of Tajikistan’s development since its independence under the wise leadership of President Emomali Rahmon, and also appreciates the support and participation of Tajikistan among the first states in the joint implementation of the One Belt, One Road initiative. In April 2019, President Emomali Rahmon visited China to participate in the Second Summit of the “One Belt and One Road” Summit on International Cooperation, and in June, President Xi Jinping made a state visit to Tajikistan and took part in the CICA Summit. During the visit of President Xi Jinping to Tajikistan, the two heads of states signed a joint statement declaring that Tajikistan and China will strive to develop all-weather friendship and further contribute to the in-depth docking of the Belt and Road Initiative with the National Development Strategy of Tajikistan to 2030. The practical cooperation between the two countries in the joint construction of Belt and Road Initiative and other fields has been continuously deepened. Together, we need to improve and create new tools for interaction, look for new points for rapprochement, new channels for cooperation, using the resources and potential of all countries that supported the Belt and Road Initiative.China has maintained its status as the largest source of investment and major trading partner in Tajikistan, and more than 300 Chinese-funded enterprises are engaged in production and operation in Tajikistan.I want to emphasize that the government of our country is interested in actively building comprehensive cooperation and on this basis of strengthening confidence-building and friendly relations between our countries.At the end of my speech, I want to express confidence that the experience, technological, innovative and investment opportunities of the countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative can be used in the joint implementation of important and promising infrastructure and production projects. In turn, this contributes to the successful implementation of the idea of creating the Community with a shared future for mankind, in which Tajikistan and the countries of Central Asia play an important role.In conclusion, I would like to once again thank the Chinese side for creating the favorable conditions for holding today’s meeting and confirm the readiness of Tajikistan for further mutually beneficial cooperation in achieving common goals.Thanks for your attention.