The Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon held talks at the Palace of the Nation with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, who is in Tajikistan on an official visit.

The two heads of state in the limited attendance talks in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding, characteristic for modern interstate relations, discussed in detail the most topical issues of development and strengthening of bilateral cooperation in all spheres of common interests.

The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation Emomali Rahmon expressed gratitude to the Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko for accepting invitation to visit Tajikistan and noted that high-level talks and mutually beneficial relationships are significantly positive in the promotion of relations between the two countries.

It was noted that Tajikistan attaches great importance to Tajik-Belarus cooperation that has scored great achievements and support for its further strengthening.

The legal base for Tajik-Belarus relations now counts around 80 important documents that cover priority areas of cooperation.

The signing of a new package of cooperation documents, which is being witnessed today by the two presidents, could be an impulsive factor in the development and expansion of promising relations between the two countries.

The heads of state expressed their satisfaction with the development of inter-parliamentary relations and suggested that the activities of the Parliamentary Friendship Groups should be expanded.

During the consultations attended by delegation members, the two sides reviewed the prospects for bilateral cooperation within regional and international organisations, such as the UN, OSCE, CIS, CSTO.

The President of the country Emomali Rahmon shared his views on active support of the Republic of Belarus for global water initiative of Tajikistan addressing “International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028″. The Leader of the Nation expressed confidence that the Belarusian delegation will take an active part in the High-level Conference on implementation of the goals and objectives of sustainable development in the field of water resources to be held in June in Tajik capital Dushanbe.

The sides exchanged views on the positions of their countries in addressing global challenges, conflict prevention, peace building and ensuring security in the region, climate change and its consequences, countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism, extremism.

In connection with the difficult political situation in neighboring Afghanistan, the head of state Emomali Rahmon stressed the need in the assistance of partners regarding strengthening of the material and technical base of Tajik border troops in order to effectively protect the southern borders of the CIS nation.

While discussing the Tajik-Belarus cooperation in the sphere of trade and economy, the heads of state acknowledged the developing of the work of Joint Tajik-Belarus Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, ensuring the timely implementation of the Interstate Economic Cooperation Program until 2020.

The sides also discussed issues of further expansion of cooperation related to implementation of new investment projects, establishing joint ventures for the production of food, pharmaceutical and agricultural products, development of poultry industry, processing of agricultural products, pulp and paper industry, oil and gas production, the manufacturing of transformers, lamps, creation of technology parks in Tajikistan with the use of the experience of Belarus, strengthening business relationships for effective use of opportunities of Tajikistan’s free economic zones.

In a summit meeting the two sides also discussed further expansion of bilateral priority areas of cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian, including science and education fields, links between higher education institutions and in training highly qualified medical specialists in both countries.

Following the talks, the presidents attended the signing of a package of bilateral documents consisting of 15 agreements covering key areas of cooperation between Tajikistan and Belarus.

The two presidents signed the Joint Statement of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the President of the Republic of Belarus on strengthening friendship.

A package of intergovernmental and interagency cooperation documents was also signed in the presence of the heads of state – Emomali Rahmon and Alexander Lukashenko.

— Programme of consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus for 2019-2020.

-A plan of action on the development of trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation between Dushanbe executive body of state authority and Minsk Region Executive Committee.

-Agreement on cooperation in the field of forensic examinations between the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan and the State Forensic Examination Committee of the Republic of Belarus.

-Agreement on cooperation in the field of forensic examinations between the Ministry of Interior Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and the State Forensic Examination Committee of the Republic of Belarus.

— Agreement on cooperation in the field of medical treatment between the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Protection of population of the Republic of Tajikistan and the State Forensic Examination Committee of the Republic of Belarus.

— Agreement on cooperation in preschool education between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus.

— Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan and Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Belarus in the field of industry.

— Agreement on cooperation in the field of health between the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Protection of population of the Republic of Tajikistan and Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Belarus.

-A roadmap program for bilateral cooperation for 2019-2020 between Tajikistan and Belarus.

— Agreement on cooperation between the State Committee for Land Management and Geodesy of Tajikistan and the State Property Committee of Belarus.

— Agreement on cooperation between Accounts Chamber of the Republic of Tajikistan and the State Control Committee of the Republic of Belarus.

— Agreement on cooperation in the field of science between Academy of sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan and National Academy of sciences of the Republic of Belarus.

— A comprehensive action plan for 2018-2020 to implement the Agreement on cooperation in the field of emergency situations prevention between the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense under the Government of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus, which was adopted in Dushanbe in 2011.

— Agreement on academic and scientific cooperation between the Tajik State Medical University and Belarusian State Medical University.

The heads of state Emomali Rahmon and Alexander Lukashenko made a press statement following the ceremony of signing a package of documents on cooperation.