Tajikistan will begin importing pedigree yaks from China and has secured Chinese approval to use its territory as a transit route for yak imports from Mongolia. In addition, China has pledged to increase the number of scholarships for Tajik students studying at agricultural universities across the country, Asia-Plus reports.
These agreements were reached during a meeting between Tajikistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Kurbon Hakimzoda, and China’s Vice Minister of Agriculture, Zhang Zhili, held in Kunming on the sidelines of the 10th Meeting of SCO Agriculture Ministers.
During the talks, both sides discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in agriculture. Key topics included phytosanitary controls, plant quarantine protocols, professional exchanges, and the logistics of using Chinese territory for transporting livestock from Mongolia.
China also expressed interest in importing agricultural produce from Tajikistan, including lemons, cherries, grapes, and dried mulberries. In turn, it offered to export processed agricultural goods to the Tajik market. Both parties emphasized the importance of digitalizing agriculture, promoting organic farming, and establishing joint laboratories for soil analysis and quality control.
An initiative was proposed to establish a SCO Demonstration Center for Innovative Agricultural Technologies in Tajikistan, modeled after a similar Chinese center in Yangling.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was an agreement to set up a joint working group under the SCO agricultural subcommittee. This group will be responsible for developing concrete projects and coordinating cooperation in seed breeding, cotton cultivation, crop protection, and the implementation of advanced technologies.
CentralAsianLIGHT.org
4 August 2025