Tajik President hails cooperation with China in mining

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon affirmed China's contribution in resources development in the Central Asian nation, saying it will continue to improve policies and rules to attract more investment in the industrial sector.

Rohmon made the remarks on Tuesday during a visit to the headquarters of Shanghai Haicheng Resources (Group) Co, whose unit Tajik-China Mining Co is already the largest investor in Tajikistan's mining industry and also Tajikistan's second-largest industrial company.

Mining and ore processing is key part of the Tajik economy. Among the Central Asian republics, Tajikistan ranks first in lead and zinc resources.

Rohmon said its government is implementing a set of policies to upgrade its own industrial enterprises and improve business environment to attract more investment in the resource-rich nation.

To date, Tajik-China Mining has invested more than US$100 million in the Tajik mining sector, as part of China's go-out strategy for strategic resources.

They include the Altin-Topkan lead and zinc mine, which is now the largest cooperation project in the mining industry between Tajikistan and China.