This is my third visit to Tajikistan, and I have set foot on this beautiful land again after 5 years. The famous Tajik poet Rudaki once said, "There is no joy in the world that can be compared to the reunion of family and friends." I look forward to meeting with President Rahmon to jointly open up a better new prospect for China Tajikistan relations. China and Tajikistan are connected by mountains and rivers, and share a common destiny. The ancient Silk Road has witnessed the friendship between the two peoples for over 2000 years. Zhang Qian of the Han Dynasty, Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty, and Chen Cheng of the Ming Dynasty all left friendly footprints in Tajikistan. The Sogdian caravan shuttled through the Eurasian continent, promoting trade between China and Central Asia, West Asia, and even Europe, and making special contributions to cultural exchange and mutual learning among the people along the Silk Road. 32 years ago, China established diplomatic relations with Tajikistan, opening a new chapter in the friendship between the two countries. Over the past 32 years, China Tajikistan relations have withstood the test of international changes, maintained a healthy and stable development momentum, and achieved a historic leap from neighborly friendship to strategic partnership, and then to comprehensive strategic partnership. Both sides announced their joint efforts to build a community with a shared future between China and Tajikistan, and to embark on a successful path for the development of neighboring country relations. ——We treat each other with sincerity, respect and trust each other. Both sides firmly support each other on core interests such as independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, respect the development path chosen by the other country based on their own national conditions, and firmly oppose any force interfering in the internal affairs of the two countries under any pretext. We have always understood and supported each other's major concerns, and are always happy to see progress in the development and revitalization of our respective countries. Both sides have established a mechanism for cooperation in key areas, providing important mechanism guarantees for the development of bilateral relations. I have met with President Rahmon 15 times, established a good working relationship and deep personal friendship, and jointly led the development of China Tajikistan relations. ——We work together together for mutual benefit and win-win. China has long been Tajikistan's largest source of investment and one of its major trading partners. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume between China and Tajikistan reached a historic high of nearly 4 billion US dollars, and continued to maintain growth momentum from January to April this year. Tajikistan is one of the first countries to participate in the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" cooperation. The joint implementation of projects such as the Yawan Cement Plant, the Hartlung Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center, and the Dangala Agricultural Textile Industrial Park by both parties has helped Tajikistan improve its industrial technology level and created thousands of employment opportunities in the local area. The construction of the Zhongta Highway and the Yawan Wahdat Railway Tunnel by Chinese enterprises connects Tajikistan to the east, west, north, and south. Tajikistan's high-quality green agricultural products such as cherries, lemons, and grapes are also constantly entering thousands of households in China and are highly favored by consumers. It is particularly gratifying that the Tajikistan parliamentary and government building projects, jointly initiated by President Rahmon and me five years ago, are about to be completed, becoming a new landmark in the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, and a new symbol of cooperation between China and Tajikistan. ——We have friendly exchanges and learn from each other. From the Confucius Institute to the Luban Workshop, we have trained a large number of young people who can speak languages and understand technology, and they have joined the wave of development and cooperation between the two countries. From the Zhongta Traditional Chinese Medicine Center to the "Healthy Express International Bright Tour", traditional Chinese medicine utilizes modern technology to safeguard the health of the people of both countries. From Cultural Day, seminars to exchanging international students, translating and publishing books, the trickle of people to people and mutual understanding continues to flow into the sea of friendship between the two countries. The friendship between the two provinces, prefectures, and cities has reached 9 pairs, and the cause of China Tajikistan friendship is constantly bursting with new vitality. ——We treat each other with courage and support each other in the same boat. During the COVID-19, in the face of the rampant virus, the two countries stood by and helped each other overcome difficulties. We provide mutual assistance with a large amount of anti epidemic medical supplies, and the Chinese side has also sent professional medical teams to Tajikistan to assist in the fight against the epidemic, forging a copper wall and iron wall to resist the epidemic. Both sides promptly negotiated and resolved the problems encountered in the operation of the Karasu Kuo Le Mai Port, ensuring that the transportation and logistics arteries of the two countries remain unobstructed. We closely coordinate and cooperate on the international stage, actively respond to and support the major initiatives put forward by the other party, firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic principles of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and contribute to the maintenance of international fairness and justice with the strength of China and Tajikistan. Currently, both China and Tajikistan are at a critical stage of national development and revitalization. China is striving to promote high-quality development and high-level opening up, and comprehensively promote the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation with Chinese path to modernization. Tajikistan is also making great strides on the road to achieving its national development strategy before 2030. I hope to discuss with President Rahmon the major cooperation plans between the two countries and push China Tajikistan relations to a new level through this visit. ——Do a good job in top-level design and stabilize the future direction of the China Tower relationship. We need to maintain close high-level exchanges, deepen the exchange of experience in governance, enhance high-level political mutual trust, and keep the relationship between the two countries on the right track. We need to deepen cooperation at all levels and in various fields, promote the implementation of high-level consensus item by item with a spirit of perseverance, and provide inexhaustible impetus for the development of China Tajikistan relations. ——Expand pragmatic cooperation and strengthen the material foundation of China Tajikistan relations. China is willing to work with Tajikistan to promote the in-depth docking of the "the Belt and Road" initiative and Tajikistan's "National Development Strategy by 2030", so as to help each other develop and revitalize. Both sides need to explore new measures to further enhance trade scale, while accelerating the construction of key sections of the China Tajikistan Highway, opening more direct flights based on the needs of personnel exchanges between the two countries, and carrying out cooperation in high-tech fields such as new energy vehicles, solar panels, and satellite communication. China is willing to expand imports of more high-quality agricultural products from Tajikistan, encourage capable Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Tajikistan, and help Tajikistan build a modern industrial system. ——Deepen security cooperation and build a security barrier for the development of the two countries. Both sides should work together to practice a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, strengthen exchanges between law enforcement and security counterparts, resolutely crack down on the "three forces" such as the East Iran Movement, and prevent terrorist extremists from infiltrating and causing chaos. We must firmly oppose external forces interfering in the internal affairs of both countries and undermining regional stability, and provide solid security guarantees for the development of both countries. ——Promote cultural exchanges and consolidate the foundation of friendship and public opinion between the two countries for generations. We welcome more Tajik friends to visit China for tourism, further education, investment, business, and exchange. We are willing to continuously expand cooperation with Tajikistan in areas such as culture, education, health, sports, youth, and local areas, so that the people of the two countries can come and go like relatives. We need to fully leverage our roles in the Taruban Workshop, Confucius Institute, and China Tajikistan Traditional Chinese Medicine Center, accelerate the establishment of cultural centers, expand local cooperation between the two countries, and carry forward the friendship between China and Tajikistan from generation to generation. ——Strengthen unity and cooperation, and create an international environment for peaceful development. Both sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the China Central Asia Mechanism, jointly practice true multilateralism, and promote an equal and orderly world multipolarity and inclusive economic globalization. Implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, firmly defend the common interests of the two countries and developing countries, and make China Tajikistan contributions to maintaining international fairness and justice. You can enjoy a grander sight by climbing to a greater height. Looking ahead to the future, China looks forward to working with Tajikistan's friends to draw a new blueprint for China Tajikistan friendship, write a new chapter of mutually beneficial cooperation, and create a better future for the two peoples. (Lai Xin She)