CHINESE DRAGON STEPS GENTLY IN TAJIKISTAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001765 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECIN ECON EFIN ENRG TBIO TI SUBJECT: CHINESE DRAGON STEPS GENTLY IN TAJIKISTAN REF: DUSHANBE 1718; DUSHANBE 1726 DUSHANBE 00001765 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. SUMMARY: Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan Li Huilai laid out the founding principles of friendship between Tajikistan and China, including economic, security, and cultural relations, at an academic conference hosted by the Tajik Center for Strategic Research in Dushanbe on September 26. Academics and policymakers spent the day discussing the future potential of China-Tajik relations. Beyond the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),China seeks to develop its status as a bilateral partner in Tajikistan's overall development. END SUMMARY. ¶2. Li's remarks followed a standard Chinese script. He said that the Tajik-Chinese relationship is based foremost on trust, and noted the significance of the upcoming signing of a document on cooperation and friendship. China's goals, he asserted, are to help the Tajik government "uphold its independence and enhance social stability." Li enumerated the economic and security related agreements signed between the two countries during the recent meeting in Dushanbe of the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (reftels). Li emphasized that China is not interested in domestic Tajik affairs or internal politics. He stated that each country has its own path of development, and that China would respect the model that Tajikistan has chosen for itself. ¶3. Although trade between the two countries is very small, Li noted that it is growing quickly. Last year, trade equaled $157 million between the two countries, whereas this year trade should break the $200 million threshold. Umarov, a speaker from the Tajik Center for Strategic Research, lamented that this trade is basically one-sided, with Tajikistan importing consumer products from China. Umarov called on China to seek out Tajik goods to import from the textiles, food, mining, and other spheres. He noted, however, that low-cost goods from China allow Tajik consumers to purchase more goods than otherwise available from Russia, Turkey, or elsewhere. He also noted that cheap transport costs from China make their goods more desirable to Tajik consumers. For example, cargo on a truck through the Pamir mountains costs $90 per cubic meter, versus $260 per cubic meter on a cargo plane. Chinese assistance with Tajik road improvement projects could make goods from China even more attractive. ¶4. China is also extending its friendship to Tajikistan in the cultural and educational spheres. According to Li, China gave 30 student scholarships to Tajik students to study in China this year -- twice as many as last year. In September, the first six Chinese students came to Tajikistan to study. China has opened its training institutes to various Tajik specialists, and has already trained 100 specialists in China. The Tajik Department of Health sent doctors to China to study medicine. The Tajik Minister of Education will soon travel to China to sign an agreement on further strengthening cooperation in education. ¶5. In the cultural realm, Li noted that China will send several national artists and performers to Tajikistan for concerts. On September 27, the National Museum of Tajikistan will open an exhibit on Chinese instruments. The Chinese Embassy will sponsor a Chinese movie week by the end of the year, and China is working on a Chinese Cultural Center in Tajikistan. In addition, China would like to make 2007 the "Year of China" in Tajikistan, and will seek to name 2008 the "Year of Tajikistan" in China. ¶6. Tajik academics at the conference responded positively to the Chinese Ambassador's comments and to China's involvement in Tajikistan through the SCO. Many speakers called for further investment and cooperation beyond the stated projects, and see China as an able partner to help Tajikistan develop its struggling economy. ¶7. COMMENT: The push from China for increased "mutual understanding" may provide very little to bridge the cultural chasm between the two countries. On the other hand, the increased attractiveness of Chinese consumer goods, the provision of quick and well-targeted assistance projects, and expanded security cooperation will ensure that China plays an increasingly important role in Tajikistan, both within the DUSHANBE 00001765 002.2 OF 002 multilateral confines of the SCO and directly as a bilateral partner. END COMMENT. JACOBSON