DUSHANBE, 14.03.2018. /NIAT «Khovar»/. The official welcoming ceremony of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation Emomali Rahmon, who has arrived in Kazakhstan on an official visit, took place at the Akorda presidential palace. After the ceremony, Presidents Emomali Rahmon and Nursultan Nazarbayev had a meeting in narrow format and were later joined by members of their delegations.

At the beginning of the meeting, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev presented to the Leader of the Nation Emomali Rahmon the Order of Parasat for making worthy contribution to the development and expansion of friendly relations between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

The head of state expressed his gratitude for the warm and cordial reception accorded to them by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The Leader of the Nation also expressed his sincere gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan for awarding the state decoration of the Republic of Kazakhstan – the Order of Parasat and confidently noted that this visit and its results will give efforts to create favorable conditions for expanding bilateral ties in a comprehensive manner for the benefit of peoples of both countries.

«Relations with Kazakhstan occupy a special place in our foreign policy, and we are interested in their progressive development. On marking the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, we can say with satisfaction that during this period, political trust was strengthened between our countries, and we laid important legal base for our bilateral cooperation”, stressed the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon.

The Head of state Emomali Rahmon noted with a good deal of satisfaction that relying on these achievements we have struck up a strategic partnership.

It was noted that the socio-economic, political and cultural achievements of Kazakhstan were achieved thanks to the wise and far-sighted policy of Nursultan Nazarbayev.

In narrow format the two sides expressed their satisfaction on cooperation within the framework of international organizations and emphasized their commitment to initiatives of the parties for development of the interregional cooperation and ensuring security and stability in accordance with the interests of all countries of the region.

The holding of the consultative meeting of heads of state of Central Asia in Kazakhstan capital – Astana was called a new form of regional cooperation between Asian nations. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev pointed out that Kazakhstan fully supports Global initiatives of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan about water-related problems. Dushanbe will host the High Level Conference on International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028» and Kazakhstani side will take an active part in it – noted Nursultan Nazarbayev.

During the discussion of international issues, the two sides shared common position and integration between their states in resolving pressing regional and international issues within important organisations such as the UN, OSCE, CIS, CSTO and SCO.

It was also stressed that Tajikistan is ready to assume the chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

The discussion with official delegations of the two countries covered a wide range of trade and economic cooperation, mining, energy, transportation, information and communication technology (ICT), finance and credit. In this context, the two sides considered necessity of strengthening activities of the Interstate Commission for Economic Cooperation between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

During the talks, the sides also expressed satisfaction with the increase in trade between the two countries, which last year amounted to more than $ 800 million, as well as from strengthening trade and economic ties. It was stressed that Kazakhstan in terms of commodity turnover with Tajikistan among foreign trade partners took the second place.

Particularly was emphasized the worthy contribution of Nursultan Nazarbayev on reaching mutual agreement on increasing the export of agricultural products from Tajikistan to Kazakhstan. It was believed that through this way it is possible to raise the volume of trade to the level of a billion dollars.

The two sides affirmed their readiness on holding of Exhibitions of Products, Business Forums, establishing direct trade/investment ties between regions and business entities.

The talks took place in a atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding, on that the sides also discussed issues of development and expansion of friendly cooperation and partnership in other priority areas, in particular, in transportation tariff policy, increase in the volumes of cargo transportation via routes of Kazakhstan, and opening direct flights between the capitals of the two countries.

Taking into account the leading position of Tajikistan towards the use of water resources, the integration to ensure the environment protection and reach energy independence, it was noted that both countries should expand beneficial cooperation for the export of electricity from Tajikistan to Kazakhstan.

Tajik – Kazakh Investment Cooperation was also stressed as one of the priority areas of the two countries. It was stressed that currently more than 80 joint ventures are operating in Tajikistan, and there are similar enterprises in Kazakhstan with the participation of Tajik investors. Strengthening of cooperation will actively contribute to the creation of a favorable investment climate for the development of the economy, industry, energy, transport and agriculture sphere. The establishment of processing of agricultural products in free economic zones and their export to other countries was also seen as an advantageous step for the economy of Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

The two sides also discussed further expansion of cooperation in the sphere of tourism, visa policy, and people – to- people contacts, healthcare, education and science.

During the discussion of international issues, special attention was paid to close cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime. The fruitful cooperation of law enforcement agencies was in focus of the sides and they agreed to further coordinate their efforts in this regard.

The parties once again stressed their firm and unchanging position in the fight against challenges and threats, their readiness to provide active assistance for establishing of peace and stability and development of the economy of the neighboring country — Afghanistan.

Following the talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of a number of documents.

Emomali Rahmon and Nursultan Nazarbayev adopted a Joint Declaration.

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on readmission;

Executive protocol on the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on readmission;

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the procedure for the stay of citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan;

Program of cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2018-2019;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the intentions of cooperation in the social sphere;

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the intentions of cooperation in the field of labor and employment;

Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Committee for Religious Affairs, Observing National Traditions and Rituals under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Religious and Civil Society Affairs Republic of Kazakhstan;

Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Agency on Public Procurement of Goods, Works and Services under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Committee for Tourism Development under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kazakh Tourism National Company.

Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Civil Service Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the National Anticorruption Bureau Ministry of Public service affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in public service sphere.

Emomali Rahmon and Nursultan Nazarbayev held a joint press conference.