Basic facts about Tajikistan

The following is some basic information about Tajikistan. (Updated: 2006/04/23)

Geography: Located in Central Asia, Tajikistan is nestled between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the north and west, China to the east, and Afghanistan to the south. It covers an area of 143,100 square km.

Population: about 6.92 million, 67 percent of whom are Tajiks.

Capital: Dushanbe

Official language: Tajik

Natural resources: Its water resources rank eighth in the world with the Nurek hydroelectric being the biggest in Central Asia. Tajikistan's mineral resources include silver, gold, copper, uranium, and tungsten.

China - Tajikistan Bilateral Relations

( Last Update: 2003/10/12)

I. Review of the Bilateral Political Relations

On January 4 2002, President Jiang Zemin and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan respectively exchanged cables of congratulation with their Tajikistan counterparts Emomali Rakhmonov and Nazarov on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Tajikistan diplomatic relations.

From January 21 to 23, 2002, the Chinese government delegation headed by State Councilor Simayi Aimait visited Tajikistan and met with Tajikistan President Rakhmonov, Prime Minister Akil Akilov, Speaker of the Upper House of the Parliament Ubaydullayev, and Speaker of the Low House oSadullo Khairulloyev. The delegation also attended activities celebrating the 10th anniversary of the founding of diplomatic relations between China and Tajikistan.

From April 16 to 19, 2002, Speaker of the Upper House of the Tajikistan Parliament Bbaydullayev visited China with a delegation and attended the third annual meeting of the Association of Asian

Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) held in China. Chairman Li Peng of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) met with the delegation.

From May 16 to 19, 2002, Tajikistan President Rakhmonov paid a working visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin. During its visit, President Jiang Zemin, Chairman Li Peng of the Standing Committee of the NPC, and Premier Zhu Rongji respectively met and held talks with the delegation. During the visit, the two sides signed the Supplement to the Boundary Agreement between People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan, the Joint Declaration between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan, the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Energy between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Repubic of Tajikistan. The Tajikistan delegation also paid a visit to Hong Kong and Xiamen and respectively met with Tung Chee-hwa, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), and Zhu Yayan, the major of Xiamen.