On January 17, 2012, Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended the reception to celebrate the 20th anniversary of China-Tajikistan diplomatic ties held by the Embassy of Tajikistan in China.

Tajik Ambassador to China Rashid Alimov said that China is one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Tajikistan. Both sides have cooperated closely and achieved fruitful results in the political, economic, cultural and other fields as well as in international and regional affairs. Tajikistan-China relationship has become a model of harmonious and equal state relations. Tajikistan cherishes the relationship with China and believes the friendly cooperation between the two countries will lay a solid foundation for development and prosperity of both countries.

Ma in his speech spoke highly of the outcome of bilateral ties. Over the past 20 years, the two countries have maintained political mutual understanding and trust, carried out mutually beneficial economic cooperation, increased cultural and people-to-people exchanges and kept closer coordination in international and regional organizations. Both countries have become real good neighbors, good friends and good partners. Good-neighborly friendship and cooperative relations between both sides have great potential and bright prospects for development. The Chinese side attaches great importance to bilateral ties and is willing to make joint efforts with Tajikistan and take the opportunity of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties to comprehensively implement the consensus reached by leaders of both countries and promote friendly relations and cooperation in various fields to a new level.