Dushanbe, 01.12.2016. /NIAT “Khovar”/. The issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and Czech Republic first took place at the tete-a-tete meeting of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon and President of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, and then continued during the top level talks in an expanded format.

“Czech Republic –is a reliable partner of Tajikistan in the international arena, and your country is a connecting point for Tajikistan with Europe,” — pointed out President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and highlighted that the Tajik side is confident in the success of the long term bilateral relations the legal basis of which consists of 8 cooperation documents.

It was stressed that the closeness and similarity of the parties’ positions on key international issues is a solid basis for the expansion of cooperation in all spheres of mutual interest.

The parties voiced confidence that the establishment of the Tajik – Czech Permanent Inter-sectoral Group on economic and industrial issues would play an important and timely step in the history of bilateral cooperation, and highlighted the great available resources and opportunities in the trade, economic relations between the two countries that are not yet properly and efficiently used.

The Tajik side expressed interest in setting up joint ventures with Czech Republic,in particular, on the processing of rock minerals, precious stones and metals, agricultural products, enterprises for the production of foodstuff, aluminum products, pharmaceutical enterprises, communications, as well as the construction of cold storages and greenhouses.Participation of Czech entrepreneursin the implementation of these projects was highly welcomed.

There have also been made effective proposals to enhance cooperation in the field of hydropower, including participation in projects for the construction of transmission lines, small and medium hydropower plants in Tajikistan.

Among the new ways and possibilities of cooperation of the Tajik-Czech business circles were also named the attraction of modern Czech technology for creating small and large industrial enterprises in the free economic zones in Tajikistan, establishment of competitive production of products in the Central and South Asian markets.

Particular attention was also paid to the further expansion of cultural and humanitarian ties, steady development of cooperation in the fields of tourism, including medical tourism and mountaineering.

The need for development of interstate cooperation between Tajikistan and the Czech Republic in the field of student and teacher exchange between the two countries was also emphasized, in particular with respect to Tajik students studying in the Czech universities within the European Union educational programs, such as Tempus, Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus Plus and the allocation of a greater number of quotas for training of Tajik students in Czech universities.

At high-level talks special attention was paid to the development of regional and international cooperation. The parties reaffirmed their readiness and interest in the joint fight against international terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime, as well as active participation in ensuring security and stability in Afghanistan.

Today’s meetings and negotiations were called as the continuation of regular political dialogue, the result of successful ties between the two countries. The sides expressed confidence that the results of the official visit of the leadership of Tajikistan to the Czech Republic will be another important and solid step towards the development of the current bilateral relations.