On September 7, 2011, Assistant Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping, at invitation, attended the reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Tajikistan hosted by Tajikistan's Ambassador to China Rashid Alimov.

Addressing the reception, Cheng spoke highly of Tajikistan's achievements in national construction and revitalization undertakings over the past 20 years since it became independent. He pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, bilateral ties have witnessed sustained, healthy and stable development, with political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation on trade, transportation, telecommunications, infrastructure construction and other areas. The two sides have offered mutual support on major issues concerning each other's core interests and conducted sound cooperation in international and regional affairs. During his attendance at the Astana Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in June, President Hu Jintao met with President Rakhmon, making new deployment and planning for the development of bilateral relations in the next stage. China is willing to work with the Tajik side to earnestly implement the consensus reached by leaders of both countries and take the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year as an opportunity to promote good-neighborly and friendly cooperative relations to a new level.

Ambassador Alimov introduced Tajikistan's brilliant achievements in national construction undertakings since its independence 20 years ago and spoke highly of the outcome of the development of bilateral relations. He reaffirmed Tajikistan would like to continue working with China to fully implement the spirit of the Sino-Tajik Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and push good-neighborly and friendly cooperative relations to a higher level.