"My ambition is to establish a company and promote closer trade ties between Tajikistan and China, thereby contributing to the economic development of my hometown [of Dangara]," said Temurzoda Amirhamza, a 24-year-old Tajik student at Tianjin University.

Temurzoda hails from Dangara city, located around 100 kms south of Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe. Dangara has emerged as a key location for economic cooperation under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In 2014, the Zhongtai New Silk Road Tajikistan Agricultural and Textile Industrial Park, which was funded by Chinese enterprises, began operating in Dangara. The industrial park is one of the largest textile facilities in Central Asia, covering the entire textile production chain, from cotton farming and spinning to weaving, dyeing and clothing manufacturing. It directly employs over 600 people and indirectly supports more than 2,000 local jobs.

"When I saw Chinese enterprises investing in and building industrial parks in my hometown, I realized that business could significantly boost employment and economic growth," said Temurzoda.

Motivated by these developments, he enrolled at Tajikistan National University to study finance and economics. During his time there, he recognized the popularity of affordable, high-quality Chinese tech products, such as smartphones and smartwatches, among Tajik youth.

This led him to begin importing goods from the Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba and selling them on Instagram. Initially earning just 300 to 400 US dollars per month, his monthly profits soon rose to around 1,000 dollars. Within two years, he had amassed over 40,000 Instagram followers and created a stable customer base.

As his business expanded, Temurzoda formally registered his trading company and launched the brand Azon.tj, assembling a team to manage procurement, logistics, warehousing and IT operations.

"There's a Chinese saying: 'Although a sparrow is small, it has all the necessary organs.' This describes my start-up perfectly — small but comprehensive," said Temurzoda.

Economic cooperation between China and Tajikistan has deepened significantly in recent years. China remains Tajikistan's largest source of investment and an important trading partner. In 2023, bilateral trade between the two countries reached 3.9 billion US dollars, marking a record high and representing a year-on-year increase of 53.5 percent. As trade ties grow stronger, more and more young Tajiks, like Temurzoda, are coming to China to enhance their language and business skills.

Temurzoda first arrived in China in 2023 to pursue an MBA in International Trade and Management at Shanxi University of Finance and Economics. Although he excelled academically in the fully English-taught program, he realized upon graduating in December 2024 that improving his Chinese was crucial for future business pursuits upon graduating.

Following his professor's advice, he enrolled in a six-month intensive Chinese language course at Tianjin University, which is renowned for its expertise in international education. Since starting the program in March 2025, Temurzoda has rapidly improved his Chinese proficiency, passing the HSK Level 4 exam in May.

"Tianjin University's teachers tailored the courses to my needs," he said. He frequently practices speaking Chinese at local markets near campus, immersing himself in daily life and culture.

He also attends online international trade courses to learn practical business skills such as company registration, import and export procedures, customs clearance and taxation.

"China has opened a world of opportunities for me. I want to serve as a bridge connecting our two countries, strengthening economic cooperation and contributing to our mutual prosperity," he said.