Tajik Scholar Receives International Orchid Award for Promoting Global Dialogue

Rashid Alimov, professor at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Tajikistan and former Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), has been honored with the esteemed Orchid Award at a ceremony held in Beijing, China.

The award, established by the China International Communication Group (CICG), recognizes individuals and organizations that significantly advance cultural exchanges between China and the world, as well as promote intercivilizational dialogue, The Caspian Post reports, citing Tajik media.

Alimov was named one of the ten laureates for 2025 for his outstanding contributions, inspiring leadership, and unwavering commitment to global sustainability, cultural diversity, and dialogue among civilizations. The ceremony also celebrated notable figures including former UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, among others.

The rigorous two-year selection process considered candidates from about 100 countries, underscoring the global prestige of the Orchid Award.

An accomplished scholar, Alimov holds a doctorate in political science and honorary professorships at universities in China, Russia, and Uzbekistan. He is the author of 16 books and over 200 scholarly articles on international relations and intercivilizational dialogue. In 2023, he was awarded China’s Special Book Award for his work “On Contemporary China, Cooperation Belts, and Paths of Co-Development.”

His 2012 publication “Tajikistan - China: Dialogue of Cultures” and the 2014 monograph “Tajikistan and China: A Course of Strategic Partnership” have become foundational texts for understanding Tajik-Chinese relations.

For nearly two decades, Alimov has contributed to leading Chinese media outlets including People’s Daily (Renmin Ribao), China Daily, and Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po, where his literary essays and poems were compiled in the 2018 Chinese-language collection “All That I Cherish.” The orchid-symbolizing beauty, elegance, nobility, and simplicity in Chinese culture-adorns the book cover and now symbolizes his award-winning legacy.

Since retiring from diplomacy, Alimov has chaired the Advisory Council at the SCO Friendship and Cooperation Center in Tajikistan. He remains an active lecturer, forum participant, and media contributor, promoting intercultural understanding across the SCO region.