Islamabad, Pakistan: President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain has desired air link with Tajikistan stating that air, road and rail links are crucial for enhancing bilateral trade and people-to-people contact between the two countries.
According to a statement issued by Foreign Office of Pakistan on Tuesday, the President of Pakistan was received by the Tajik President at the Qasr-e-Millat where he was presented a Guard of Honour. The President also laid a wreath at the Monument of Ismail Somoni, the founder Tajik State.
It may be mentioned President Mamnoon Hussain is visiting Tajikistan from 18-21 June 2018 on the invitation of President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon.
President Mamnoon Hussain will also be participating in the High-Level International Conference on International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, to be held on 20 June 2018 in Dushanbe. This is the President’s first visit to Tajikistan.
The President held tete-e-tete with President Emomali Rahmon followed by delegation level talks. They reviewed Pakistan-Tajikistan relations and examined prospects to enhance cooperation in areas of trade and economy, investment, culture, education, science & technology, defence, parliamentary exchanges, humanitarian issues and people-to-people contacts. President Emomali Rahmon reaffirmed Tajikistan’s desire for further intensifying bilateral cooperation in all fields, terming Pakistan as a key partner in the region. Noting regular high level exchanges, he underlined the importance of closer economic and investment ties in the areas of science and technology, agricultural products, industry, hydro power generation, pharmaceuticals, and tourism.
President of Pakistan underlined the importance of connectivity based on the geographical proximity of the two countries. He reiterated that establishment of air, road and rail links are crucial for enhancing bilateral trade and people-to-people contact between the two countries. The President highlighted the importance of deepening engagement with Tajikistan in counter-narcotics and combating terrorism for regional peace and stability.
The President of Pakistan extended an invitation to the Tajik President to visit Pakistan which he accepted. Dates of the visit will be decided later through diplomatic channels.
The two leaders signed a Joint Declaration titled “Strengthening the Road to Strategic Partnership for Regional Integration” and witnessed the signing of two bilateral agreements, namely, Memorandum of Understanding On Cooperation in the Field of Information Between the Committee on Television and Radio of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) Between The Office Of The Auditor General Of Pakistan And The Accounts Chamber Of Republic Of Tajikistan On Co-Operation On Auditing In Public Sector.
Correspondent from Dushanbe adds:
The meeting between President Emomali Rahmon and Mamnoon Hussain covered discussion for enhancing friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation between the countries and emphasized the special place.
Two sides discussed the comprehensive and constructive cooperation of the countries in the military-political, trade-economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres that are long-term and responsive to national interests and expressed their readiness to develop regional integration, strengthen peace and tranquility in the vast region of Central and South Asia.
The contribution of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation to the development of cooperation in these areas and the formation of priority areas for economic cooperation, including hydropower, transport, agriculture, various industries, as well as tourism, was recognized as very important.
Two sides focused on increasing the trade turnover to $ 500 million, sharing the vast hydropower potential of Tajikistan, implementing regional projects, including the construction of the CASA-1000 power transmission line, the introduction of transport and transit capabilities of the countries.
It was noted that the use of favorable opportunities for the mining of minerals, including stones and precious metals, the production of high-quality aluminum, the construction of cable companies, the production of various electric vehicles, cooperation in the light and food industries, processing of agricultural products, construction of enterprises for the production of building materials and medicines, attraction of investments and close cooperation of entrepreneurs can become a priority direction of bilateral relations.
The process of development of international cooperation, having a humanitarian character, the implementation of joint projects in the field of education, health, scientific and technical and technological cooperation, the development of permanent ties between the intelligentsia and the people of art were recognized as very valuable for strengthening the historic friendship of the peoples of the two countries.
During the discussion of important international and regional issues, the sides indicated their valuable common or close positions in regional and world organizations, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The sides expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of security, which moved to a new level, and discussed issues of combating global threats – terrorism, drug trafficking, other types of organized transnational crime, and peace and tranquility in Afghanistan.
After the completion of high-level meetings and negotiations, 3 new documents were signed in the presence and with the participation of the heads of state in the name of developing and expanding the relations of friendship of cooperation.
Both the presidents signed the Joint Declaration on “Strengthening the basis for strategic partnership for the sake of regional integration” between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
In the presence of the heads of the two states, the following interdepartmental documents were signed:
– Memorandum on cooperation between the Accounting Chamber of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Office of the Auditor General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on cooperation in the field of public sector auditing;
– Memorandum on cooperation in the field of information between the Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Information, Television, Radio and National Heritage of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
After the signing ceremony of the new cooperation documents, the Founder of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the respected Emomali Rahmon and the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnun Hussein held a press conference for a wide range of journalists following a bilateral meeting.
The two Leaders also held a joint press stakeout.
Opening remarks of President President Emomali Rahmon at press stakeout are hereunder:
Dear representatives of the media, ladies and gentlemen!
First, I once again welcome His Excellency President Mamnoon Hussain and his accompanying delegation on a visit to Tajikistan.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is among our key partners. We express our satisfaction with the growing process of political relations between Tajikistan and Pakistan, including at a high level.
Today’s talks took place in the special atmosphere of mutual understanding, creativity and absolute trust inherent in our relations.
I am deeply convinced that the results of the official visit of the distinguished President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan will give new impetus to the bilateral relations of our friendly countries and will become a factor of greater expansion of the set of relations between the parties.
Both sides hold the view that the extensive and constructive cooperation between our countries in the political, military, economic, trade, humanitarian and cultural spheres meets the national and long-term interests of the two countries and contributes to the expansion of regional integration and the strengthening of peace and stability in the vast region of Central and South Asia .
We particularly stressed the importance of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission in expanding economic ties.
It was considered necessary for the effective work of the Commission to enrich the content of our cooperation.
Against this background, the center of the talks was the issue of increasing the volume of foreign trade between the two countries to 500 million US dollars.
We express the hope that the business and investment circles of Pakistan will take an effective part in the implementation of large and medium-sized projects of our country.
We are ready to create favorable conditions for the cooperation of the parties, especially in the implementation of programs for the development of industry, energy, energy and transport infrastructure, tourism, education and health.
Tajikistan, as a drought-prone country, reiterated its interest in using the capabilities of Pakistan’s seaports and its existing transit network to expand regional trade.
On this basis, the need to restore air communications was also discussed.
At present, several projects are being implemented in Tajikistan, thanks to which the opportunities for development of our cooperation in this sphere are growing.
In this regard, the need to launch the implementation of one of the important regional projects of the CASA-1000 was underscored.
Both sides paid special attention to the development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
We pointed to the prospects for improving our relations in the sphere of education, culture, health and the development of scientific and technical cooperation.
During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on a wide range of important regional and international issues.
In this regard, special attention was paid to expanding multilateral cooperation, development and improvement, including within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Organization for Economic Cooperation.
One of the core themes of our discussion was the normalization of the situation in Afghanistan and the establishment of peace and tranquility in a neighboring country.
In order to facilitate this process, we decided to further strengthen the coordination of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
In the center of our attention were also issues of effective struggle against terrorism and extremism, smuggling of narcotic substances and organized transnational crime, which threaten the security of both countries and the entire region.
The issues of strengthening regional stability, fighting against the global threat form the core of the partnership of our countries in the field of security.
We have come to a decision to strengthen fruitful cooperation in this field, to advance it forward.
Tajikistan expresses satisfaction with the results of today’s meeting with His Excellency Mamnun Hussein and assesses it as important.
Now, with great pleasure, I give the floor to His Excellency. You are welcome.
