Xi Pens Article for Tajikistan Media

On July 5, 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) published a signed article titled “Working Together for a Brighter Future of China-Tajikistan Relations” (共創中塔關係美好明天) in Tajikistan’s Narodnaya Gazeta newspaper and the state-run Khovar News Agency. The placement of the article corresponded with his state visit to the country, his third since coming to office in late 2012. The visit followed Xi’s attendance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan. In the article Xi emphasized deepening bilateral cooperation and announced the establishment of a “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership” between China and Tajikistan. Xi met with President Emomali Rahmon (埃莫馬利·拉赫蒙) during the visit, where they signed a joint statement on the upgraded relationship. The Narodnaya Gazeta is a government-owned Russian-language newspaper published every three weeks. Khovar is Tajikistan’s official state news agency, established in 1925.Announcement of the publication of Xi’s article was also made through the website of “The Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission,” using coverage by the state-run China Daily. The commission is associated with the SCO but actually run by the Chinese government, with a member of the CCP Central Committee as president — showing how China uses proxy groupings and forums to assist with its external propaganda work.