President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan visits PKU on May 12 as part of his state visit to China.

Peking University, May 13, 2026: "Education is the most important key to a nation's development," proclaimed Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, emphatically.

In a speech delivered at Peking University (PKU) on May 12, President Rahmon looked back on the achievements of China-Tajikistan cooperation, and, on a more personal note, gave hearty encouragement to young people to cherish their youth and study hard. "Young people need to be well educated because you are the future of a nation."

The stop at PKU was part of President Rahmon's state visit to China from May 11-14, marking his 23rd trip to the East Asian nation.

In recognition of President Rahmon's outstanding contribution to China-Tajikistan friendship, regional peace and development, and reform in global governance, PKU conferred on President Rahmon an Honorary Professorship.

Announcing the conferment decision, He Guangcai, chair of PKU Council, noted that, under President Rahmon's leadership, Tajikistan has seen historic socioeconomic development and warming ties with China. He emphasized that this honorary title carried great wishes of both countries for a beautiful future for their bilateral relationship.

Also affirming President Rahmon's efforts, Gong Qihuang, president of PKU, stated that the current bilateral relations are at a historic best, pointing to the fact that the two countries formed, in 2024, a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.

In addition, Gong underlined PKU's deep cooperation with Tajik higher education institutions. As an example, he cited An Anthology of Tajik Poetry (Ta Ji Ke Shi Xuan), edited in part by PKU, and said that this publication epitomized the growing cultural affinity shared between the two nations.





In response, President Rahmon thanked PKU for this honor, saying that this honorary title marked yet another milestone in China-Tajikistan relationship.

He then gave an overall review of this bilateral relationship, tracing it back to the ancient Silk Road, which spread knowledge, ideas, commodities, and cultures throughout the Eurasian continent by camel caravans, he said.

Though times have changed, the Silk Road spirit has been carried forward to the present day, where the Belt and Road Initiative has brought greater connectivity and economic boom to both China and Tajikistan, said President Rahmon.

On the cultural front, he noted that Tajikistan is now host to two Confucius Institutes and one Luban Workshop, which have trained a large number of Chinese speakers and technical personnel who are now a vital force for the development and cooperation between the two countries.

President Rahmon stressed that Tajikistan attaches great significance to educational cooperation with China, noting that there are currently around 6,000 Tajiks studying in China. "But this is far from enough," he cautioned. "We need to deepen our cooperation across all disciplines."

Audience at the event.

Education, as President Rahmon stated, is a key part of the bilateral cooperation, given that 70% of Tajik population is under 30 years old, thus making education the basis of the country's future social productivity, according to him.

He drew on his own hardscrabble experience in the early days of Tajikistan's founding to illustrate that people from humble beginnings can still make an impact in the world through effort and knowledge.

"The conditions now are much better than in the past, which gives you a golden opportunity to pursue a good education," said President Rahmon to an audience consisting mostly of Chinese and Tajik students. "An illiterate nation can never develop itself."

Reported by: Chen Shizhuo
Edited by: Zhang Jiang
Photo by: Wang Ziqian, Li Xianghua, Liu Yan, Li Yijie