DUSHANBE, 27.04.2019. (NIAT Khovar) – The Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon took part in the first roundtable discussion at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which was held at the Yanqi Lake International Convention Center in Beijing.

President Emomali Rahmon’s speech focused on expanding the opportunities for cooperation to study the sources of development. He stressed that Tajikistan attaches special importance to the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and is ready to establish effective cooperation with all countries within the framework of this project.

It was noted that this initiative can serve as an additional financial resource for Tajikistan and can facilitate the implementation of its National Development Strategy up to 2030.

For a landlocked country like Tajikistan, this initiative can help to break the communication deadlock, develop its transit capacity and create new opportunities, and new routes for entering new markets and creating new production enterprises.

“Our purpose aims toward the development of the transport and transit spheres and creating favorable conditions for the international transport routes,” said President Emomali Rahmon, noting his support for the proposed China-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan and China-Tajikistan-Afghanistan highways.

«We also support the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project and are ready to enter it,» he continued.

According to President  Emomali Rahmon, the effective use of Tajikistan’s hydropower and mineral resources, the development of mining, light and food industries, non-ferrous metallurgy and agriculture can serve as promising areas of cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, which can in turn raise the living standards in Tajikistan.