This undated photo shows Tajikistani entrepreneur Amirhamza Temurzoda posing for a photo with the "Tianjin Eye" ferris wheel in north China's Tianjin.(Xinhua)
TIANJIN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- After completing intensive Chinese language training in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Tajikistani citizen Amirhamza Temurzoda is pursuing a work visa, eager to gain hands-on experience in international trade in China before launching his own trading venture back home.
Temurzoda, 24, hails from Danghara, a city about 100 km from the Tajikistani capital, Dushanbe. His entrepreneurial ambition originates from the tremendous change of his hometown, which has become an important hub for Tajikistan-China economic and trade cooperation in recent years.
Under the Belt and Road Initiative that was put forward in 2013, an agriculture and textile industrial park funded by Chinese investment has been established in Danghara, encompassing the entire cotton-to-garment production chain.
"Seeing more and more Chinese companies investing in my hometown, I realize economic and trade cooperation not only creates job opportunities but also has a profound impact on regional economies," Temurzoda said.
During his studies in finance and economics at Tajik National University, Temurzoda began sourcing products through Alibaba's international platform and selling them to the Tajikistani market via Instagram.
Within two years, his Instagram account amassed over 40,000 followers, many of whom became loyal customers, with his monthly profits reaching around 1,000 U.S. dollars per month.
"Chinese tech products like smartwatches and smartphones are of high quality and affordable, making them very popular among young people in our country," he said.
As his business expanded, he registered a trading company during his third year of university, creating his own brand and forming a professional team covering procurement, logistics, warehousing and IT operations.
"As a Chinese proverb goes, 'A small sparrow has all its vital organs, '" Temurzoda said with a smile. "Although the company was small in the beginning, it had all the necessary functions, laying the groundwork for future growth."
As a member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Tajikistan has seen its economic and trade relations with China flourish in recent years.
Data shows that China has been Tajikistan's largest source of investment and a major trading partner for many consecutive years. In the first half of 2025, bilateral trade between the two countries reached 2.04 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 12.5 percent. Among them, imports from Tajikistan totaled 260 million U.S. dollars, representing a staggering year-on-year increase of 56.2 percent.
Inspired by the potential of the Chinese market, more and more Tajikistani youth like Temurzoda are heading to China to study the Chinese language, economics and trade.
In April 2023, Temurzoda came to China for the first time to pursue a Master's in Business Administration at Shanxi University of Finance and Economics in north China's Shanxi Province. Two years later, he began studying Chinese at Tianjin University.
To better understand Chinese culture and daily life, Temurzoda frequently visited local markets near the university and chatted with vendors. He also enrolled in an online course on international trade practices, learning about cross-border trade processes, company registration procedures, customs clearance, and tax and financial regulations in China.
As the SCO Tianjin Summit will be held from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, Temurzoda hopes to explore more potential for economic and trade cooperation via the summit and deepen his understanding of Chinese culture, economy, and market dynamics.
He plans to work in a company related to Tajikistani-Chinese international trade for several years before establishing his own business in the sector.
"China has opened up a world of possibilities for me. With its vast market and abundant opportunities, I want to bring more Chinese products to Tajikistan while also helping Tajikistani specialty products reach the Chinese market," Temurzoda said.
A single purchase
