Dushanbe, 03.01.2015 (NIAT «Khovar»). On 3 January 2016, a solemn ceremony of official reception of the high guest, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, took place in front of the Palace of Yamamah.

Head of state Emomali Rahmon was welcomed and invited to the honorary tribune by the King of Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

During a bilateral meeting of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a wide range of issues related to the friendly relations and multidimensional cooperation between the two countries were discussed.

The consideration of different issues first began at the tete-a-tete top-level meeting and then continued during the official negotiations with the participation of delegations of both countries.

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud welcomed Emomali Rahmon to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and expressed joy from an opportunity to directly discuss the issues pertaining the expansion of ties between the two friendly countries.

Emomali Rahmon, in his turn, express his gladness for the first possibility to meet Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and stated: “We, in Tajikistan, consider Saudi Arabia as our important partner in the Arab world and Middle East, and we take constant interest in the development and strengthening of wide-ranging relations with your country”.

It was noted with satisfaction that over the period of independence, good political relationships have been established between the two countries on the basis of trust, reciprocity and constructiveness, including during the three visits of the President of Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia.

A beneficial conversation took place on the ways to boost and expand political, economic, trade, investment, cultural ties and interaction in the ensuring of regional security and stability.

It was stressed that Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia can establish a mutually acceptable, fruitful cooperation in the security domain, in particular in the fight against transnational organized crime – terrorism, extremism and illegal drug trafficking.

Emomali Rahmon reminded with acknowledgement about the economic ties and financial support of Saudi Arabia with regards to the implementation of several infrastructure projects in Tajikistan, including the reconstruction of automobile road Kulob-Kalai Khumb and construction of several schools and hospitals, but at the same time highlighted that “our economic cooperation still does not meet current potential and opportunities of our countries”.

The participation of Saudi Arabia in the financing of regional energy and hydropower projects, from among the construction of big and medium power stations, substations, transboundary high-voltage power transmission lines, as well as construction of hosiery mills, extraction and processing of minerals and irrigation of lands was considered desirable.

Following the top-level talks five new cooperation documents have been signed:

• Agreement between the Government of Tajikistan and Government of Saudi Arabia on cooperation in the fight against crime;
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Tajikistan and Government of Saudi Arabia on cooperation in the spheres of science and technology;
• Agreement between the Government of Tajikistan and Government of Saudi Arabia on cooperation in the sphere of youth and sports;
• Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan and Ministry of Higher Education of Saudi Arabia;
• Agreement between the Government of Tajikistan and Government of Saudi Arabia on air communication.