DUSHANBE, 10.08.2018. /NIAT “Khovar”/. The President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon had talks with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev within the framework of his official visit to Azerbaijan.

The official ceremony to welcome the President of Tajikistan took place on the square in front of the Zagulba Palace prior to the meeting of the two leaders.

Following the official welcoming ceremony, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev had a one-on-one discussion. Later the talks continued in an expanded format.

The President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon expressed his gratitude for the invitation and warm reception accorded to him and to the Tajikistan delegation by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and noted with satisfaction the level of cooperation achieved in multidimensional cooperation between the two states.

The Tajikistani side expressed interest in developing and expanding cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Both sides expressed their confidence that the agreements reached in today’s negotiations would raise the multifaceted partnership to higher stages of growth.

Tajikistan and Azerbaijan reaffirmed continued commitment to further deepening cooperationin all fields of mutual interest in accordance with the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between the two countries. It was stressed that Tajikistan and Azerbaijan have a single or identical position on many regional and international issues.

The parties expressed their mutual interest in developing of bilateral and multilateral cooperation within the framework of the UN, OSCE, CIS, OIC, ECO and other regional and international organizations.

It was stressed that regular high-level political dialogues and the existence of an atmosphere of mutual trust create favorable conditions for the steady development of interstate relations in all spheres and prove the unity and identity of the positions of the sides on most regional and international issues.

The President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon stressed that both countries are interested in the development and expansion of international relations and invariably support each other’s international initiatives. In this context, Tajikistani side extended its greeting to Azerbaijani side for supporting global initiative of Tajikistan related to International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028.

Economic cooperation  drives as the core of inter-state integration of Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, and the parties affirmed  their interest in developing relations in trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres within the framework of the work of the Tajikistani – Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation and Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Groups.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment onattraction of companies and financial organizations of Azerbaijan in the implementation of joint projects in the areas of trade, construction, transportation, telecommunications, industry, agriculture, energy and petroleum products.

In this context, it was considered important the conducting of Tajik – Azerbaijani Business Circles’ Forum and goods exhibitions.

A number of useful proposals were made to enhance cooperation in the field of road transportation, cargo transportation, aluminum enterprises, oil and gas companies.

The two sides considered necessity of the implementation of projects for the construction of the small and medium-sized hydropower plants as well as production and processing of mining metals.

There was also an interest in the development of cooperation between the TALCO Enterprise of Tajikistan and the Azeralumin Company, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

The sides also agreed to cooperate in principle in concrete projects, in promising spheres likepurchase of petroleum coke, alumina, fuel, construction of small and medium-sized hydroelectric power stations, highways, extraction and processing of minerals, ensuring food security, attraction of investments in the economy of Tajikistan.

The sides agreed to improvecooperation in the spheres of air communication, agriculture, ensuring food security, tourism, science, education and culturein order to expand mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Tourism, cultural and humanitarian ties, science and education, student exchange program, allocation of quotas for study in universities of both countries were considered as promising areas of bilateral cooperation.

The sides discussed the situation in Afghanistan, fight against terrorism and violent extremism, drug trafficking and other transnational organized crimes.

The Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan EmomaliRahmon invited the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to visit Tajikistan at any time convenient for him.

Following the talks, a Joint Statement of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted and twelveinterdepartmental and corporate documents were signed in the presence of EmomaliRahmon and Ilham Aliyev.

In particular,

Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO).

Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the State Unitary Enterprise “Tajik Aluminum Company” (TALCO) and “Azerbaijan Industrial Corporation” (AIC).

Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Committee on Television and Radio broadcasting under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint-Stock Company.

Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the State Unitary Enterprise “Tajik Aluminum Company” (TALCO) and State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic on delivery of petroleum coke.

Agreements on cooperation between the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan and the State Border Service of Azerbaijan Republic on training of servicemen of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan at the Academy of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Agreement on cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the field of veterinary medicine.

Protocol of cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the mutual allocation of annual educational quotas;

Agreement on cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the field of industry and new technologies;

Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Economy and Industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Agreement on cooperation between the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

Program on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2020.

EmomaliRahmon and Ilham Aliyev held a joint press conference.