Karomatullo Olimov

(Deputy Director, Department of Social Sciences at the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan)

Author

Karomatullo Olimov, born on July 27, 1944, is Associate PhD in Philosophy and PhD in History. He has been Deputy Director of the Department of Social Sciences at the Academy of Science of the Republic of Tajikistan since November, 2010. As an eminent scholar in Tajikistan, he published five monographs, and more than 300 academic reports. His research areas include the history of philosophy, political science, and social philosophy. Many of his academic papers have been published overseas. He served as Chairman of the National Commission of Tajikistan for UNESCO from 2001 to 2011.

Abstract

First of all, please allow me to extend my sincere gratitude to the organizer of this international forum. I'd like to point out that the topic for discussion now is of great importance. From the perspective of globalization, the Silk Road, encompassing the Euroasia region, will create a favorable environment for mutual beneficial cooperation. By teaming up with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the vision of Silk Road strategy has become clearer and it is rich in content with economic cooperation as the core. It's not only economically feasible, but also politically significant. The relatively stable political, economic and social environment of SCO members is conducive to the future development of these countries. What's worth mentioning is the special status of China and its commitment to good neighborly and friendly relations, fair cooperation and regional stability. China's efforts have been widely appreciated and recognized by people in the region, especially in expanding economic, scientific and cultural relations with its neighboring countries. China-Tajikistan ties testify to the rapid development of foreign relations, in terms of both culture and science, under the SCO framework. The 150 or so treaties and agreements signed between China and Tajikistan in the past 20 years guarantee the ongoing large-scale bilateral cooperation and a long-term partnership in the future. In May, President of Tajikistan Emomalii Rahmon visited China. He and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the prospects of the bilateral cooperation. Rahmon appraised the China-Tajikistan relation as a reflection of friendly exchanges and effective cooperation, while Xi described Tajikistan as a good neighbor, a good friend and a reliable strategic partner. In fact, the value of trade between China and Tajikistan has surpassed $2 billion for two consecutive years. The global financial crisis has severely affected China's economic development. Nonetheless, China still provided 60 million yuan of financial assistance and $100 million of concessional loans in aid to Tajikistan. All these reflect the friendly relations between the two countries. In our view, China's experience in thwarting this round of global financial crisis is of great value, especially during this period of time when people are confronted with systematic threats, such as food, energy and financial crisis. The stable and win-win cooperation between China and countries along the Silk Road will contribute to the peace, mutual trust and sustainable development in the region, which will ensure prosperity of these countries.