DUSHANBE, 15.03.2018 /NIAT “Khovar”/. The Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon attended a Working (Consultative) meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asian countries.

The meeting that is taking place in the Kazakhstan capital – Astana is being attended by President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Chairman of the Assembly of Turkmenistan Akja Nurberdiýewa.

The Consultative Meeting agenda included Central Asian nations’ cooperation in all spheres of common interests.

In his address President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon noted that Central Asia is a region with extensive untapped natural resources, transport-and-communication and human capacities. In this regard, he expressed hope that the region’s potential should be used efficiently and reasonably for the benefit of the peoples of the region.

Moreover, the growing challenges and threats confronting the security of states such as terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and religious radicalism require the CA states to use all mechanisms for effective and prompt response to fight against them.

The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon expressed his readiness to use all opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the CA nations.

The head of Tajikistan noted that the region has a huge untapped potential for fostering development of trade and economic relationships.

In this context, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon reportedly pointed to the necessity of all appropriate measures to identify and eliminate existing barriers to ensure the free movement of people, exchange of goods, labor and capital. The effective use of the transport-and-communication and transit potential has been called beneficial for the parties.

Rational and targeted use of water and energy resources was called as one of the main directions of cooperation between the Central Asian states. It would be a key factor for prosperity and sustainable development of the region.

In this regard, President Emomali Rahmon noted that «I repeatedly in my address to the United Nations and in my annual messages to Majlisi Oli have been noting that “Tajikistan has never created and will never create water-use-related problems to its neighbors. Today, I want to stress once again that we will never leave our neighbors without water. I believe that an open dialogue, the strengthening of mutual understanding and the development of constructive cooperation would contribute to the achievement of our objectives in this area».

The head of state expressed interest in developing regional partnership in the sphere of rational and targeted use of water and energy resources.

According to him, the existing hydropower facilities would provide a solution to the region’s energy and water problems.

Emomali Rahmon also spoke for expanding contacts in the cultural, humanitarian and scientific and technical spheres.

Leader of the Nation noted that strengthening cooperation in this area should be important factor for the further spiritual and cultural rapprochement of the countries and peoples of the region.

Following his address, the President of our country expressed hope that the results of the consultative meeting will be a factor in strengthening of beneficial process to ensure decent living standards for all Central Asian citizens.

The Heads of State of Central Asian countries adopted a Joint Declaration on the celebration of the International Navruz holiday.