CHINANEWS, July 5 — Visiting here, Xi Jinping said "it is just like visiting relatives"

"Every visit is like visiting relatives, and it is very pleasant."

Five years ago, on June 16, 2019, President Xi Jinping, having concluded his state visit to Tajikistan, took leave of Tajik President Rahmon, who had come to the airport to see him off. The phrase "just like visiting relatives" fully displayed the friendship between China and Tajikistan.

Five years later, at Rahmon's invitation, Xi Jinping once again begins a state visit to Tajikistan, and this friendship "like visiting relatives" will write a new chapter.

The friendship between China and Tajikistan first stems from their geographical connection of shared mountains and rivers.

Tajikistan is located in southeastern Central Asia and shares a 495-kilometer common border with China. Because mountainous areas account for about 93 percent of its territory, Tajikistan also enjoys the reputation of the "country of high mountains."

"The ancient Chinese thinker Confucius said: 'The benevolent delight in mountains.' In such a majestic and mountainous country, the people are serene and profound, which is fascinating." Ten years ago, in September 2014, when President Xi Jinping first visited Tajikistan, he said this in a signed article published in the Tajik media.

The friendship between China and Tajikistan also originates from friendly exchanges in history.

China-Tajikistan friendship has a long history, dating back more than two thousand years to Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions, when he visited Tajikistan. On the ancient Silk Road, Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty and Chen Cheng of the Ming Dynasty both left friendly footprints, and the stories of Tajik historical and cultural figures such as Somoni and Rudaki are also celebrated across the Chinese land. The varied figures of the Sogdians became the main subjects of Tang Dynasty tri-color glazed camel-riding musicians.

In 1992, China established diplomatic relations with Tajikistan. Over more than 30 years, the relationship between the two countries has achieved a leap from good-neighborly friendship to a strategic partnership and then to a comprehensive strategic partnership. In May last year, during the China-Central Asia Summit, China and Tajikistan jointly announced the building of a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future featuring generations of friendship, shared weal and woe, and mutual benefit and win-win results.

The friendship between China and Tajikistan also stems from the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy.

Ten years ago, when Xi Jinping visited Tajikistan, he said it was "visiting the home of a good neighbor and good brother." During that visit, Rahmon accompanied Xi Jinping for nearly 10 hours and also, together with three generations of his family, welcomed Xi Jinping and his wife to his home as guests. During the visit, Rahmon repeatedly took Xi Jinping's hand on his own initiative, saying that "good brothers should move forward hand in hand."

Five years ago, when Xi Jinping visited again, Rahmon awarded Xi Jinping Tajikistan's highest state honor, the Order of the Crown. At that time, Xi Jinping said, "President Rahmon awarded me the 'Order of the Crown,' which embodies the profound friendship of all the Tajik people toward the Chinese people, and I cherish this very much."

In May last year, Xi Jinping received Rahmon in Xi'an, who was in China to attend the China-Central Asia Summit and pay a state visit. "I am very glad to meet my old friend President Rahmon in Xi'an." During the talks, Xi Jinping's opening remarks once again revealed the warmth of old friends meeting.

At that talk in Xi'an, Xi Jinping said that China is willing to work with Tajikistan to comprehensively raise the level of cooperation in all fields and promote the building of a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future featuring generations of friendship, shared weal and woe, and mutual benefit and win-win results.