The official ceremony to welcome the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon took place at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office.

The state flags of Tajikistan and Japan were raised, and an orchestra played the countries’ national anthems. Emomali Rahmon and Shinzo Abe reviewed the honour guard and introduced the members of their delegations, respectively.

After the official welcoming ceremony, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon held talks with Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. Later Tajikistani-Japanese talks continued in the presence of both countries’ delegations.

At the beginning of the meeting, the President of our country Emomali Rahmon expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the invitation to visit Japan and for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation.

It was emphasized that “Japan, as an advanced country in the world, takes a special place in the foreign policy of our country, and Tajikistan regards your state as an important partner in the international arena from the beginning of its independence.”

The similarity and proximity of the countries’ positions on resolving key problems at bilateral, regional and international levels, Japan’s assistance for the implementation of important social projects in Tajikistan, the adoption of a Joint Declaration on friendship and cooperation between Tajikistan and Japan and other factors have made a worthy contribution to the development and expansion of relations between the two countries.

The President of our country Emomali Rahmon noted that over the years of cooperation the Government of Japan has implemented over 426 social projects totaling $ 350 million in Tajikistan and all these projects coincide with the strategic goals of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The rehabilitation of “Dusti-Panji Poyon” and “Qurghonteppa-Dusti” Roads is a vivid example of cooperation between the two countries and meets the requirements of our country’s strategic goals in the domain of pulling out of communication deadlock.

Tajikistani side underlined the significant contribution of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the «Japan + Central Asia Dialogue» to the strengthening of cooperation.

It was noted that the volume of trade turnover between the two countries reached $40 million, while, compared with the previous year, it is more for $10 million.

The enhancement of trade and economic, technical and humanitarian ties, implementation of 50 previously signed documents of cooperation, participation of Japan in the implementation of important social projects, boosting cooperation in the field of financial support, attraction of Japanese direct investment in the economy of Tajikistan, creation of the Joint Investment Fund and the allocation of concessional loans were also discussed during the meeting.

The two sides shared their views that cooperation in the field of energy, generation of electricity power and other sources, in particular development of the joint long-term program on realization of the great hydroenergy capacity of Central Asia for ensuring energy security, supply of electricity to South Asia, particularly Afghanistan and Pakistan, strengthening of cooperation in the field of mining, transportation, agriculture, tourism and pharmaceuticals would drive growth to both countries’ economic cooperation.

One of the factors for the development of trade and economic relations was the stimulation of the business circles of Japan to trade in Tajikistan. A vivid example of cooperation is the effective activity of the “Avvalin” joint venture for the treatment of medicinal plants and the production of preparations.

It was emphasized that free economic zones were established and all conditions were created to attract foreign investment in Tajikistan.

During the meeting, the sides also discussed the expansion of cooperation in promising areas, such as cultural and humanitarian ties, the exchange of experience between the scientific circles of the two countries, the training of highly qualified personnel, and the improvement of professional skills of Tajik specialists in Japanese higher education institutions.

While discussing security issues, Tajikistani side appreciated Japan’s contribution to strengthening border security between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Other issues being of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.

Following the talks, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe adopted the Joint Statement on deepening and strengthening of New Partnership between Tajikistan and Japan.

In addition, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral documents.

— The program of cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for 2019-2021;

— Exchange of Memorandum of Understanding on “Programme for Human Resource Development Scholarship» by JDS.

— Grant agreement on the «Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)»

— Memorandum of Understanding on the pre-Games training for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 between the National Olympic Committee of Tajikistan and the Aomori Prefecture, Japan;

— Agreement on cooperation between the Tajikistan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC);

— Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Committee on Youth Affairs and Sports under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan;

— Memorandum of Understanding between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe also made statements for the press.