On the evening of 16 June, President Xi Jinping spoke with President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan on the phone.

Xi hailed the two countries as friends indeed who help each other in times of need. The Tajik government and various social sectors offered support to China at a demanding stage of it battle with COVID-19. China, on its part, provided all possible assistance when Tajikistan was struck by the virus. Medical experts from the two countries shared experience via video link, and a joint working group of Chinese medical experts worked in multiple localities in Tajikistan. Such mutual assistance is what defines the China-Tajikistan community of shared development and security. China will continue to support and help its brother Tajikistan. Xi expressed confidence that under Rahmon's leadership, Tajikistan will achieve an early victory against the virus. He also expressed China's readiness to work with Tajikistan and the rest of the international community to actively pursue international cooperation against COVID-19 and win the battle for global public health.

Noting that the bilateral relationship has come to a new historical starting point, Xi pointed out the need for both sides to promote trade ties while keeping the virus under control, and explore new ways to deliver key projects of Belt and Road cooperation. The two sides need to start planning cooperation for a post COVID-19 era, in such key areas as economy, trade, investment, energy, connectivity and agriculture, to make new progress in bilateral ties.

Rahmon commended the effective COVID-19 response and continued progress in socioeconomic development China has made under the strong leadership of President Xi, describing them as a testament to the remarkable governance capacity of the Chinese government. He thanked China for supporting Tajikistan in fighting the virus and reviving the economy. He expressed his hope for greater friendship, mutual trust and solidarity with China, more complementarity between the Belt and Road Initiative and the National Development Strategy of Tajikistan up to the period of 2030, broader cooperation in economy, trade, health and technology, and closer coordination in regional organizations such as the SCO and CICA, with a view to advancing the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership. He reaffirmed Tajikistan's commitment to the one-China principle and firm support for China's justified actions to safeguard its sovereignty and security. Tajikistan is ready to work with China for a community with a shared future for mankind.