DUSHANBE, 04.08.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – The talks between the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov were held in Turkmenistan’s Oguzhan Presidential Palace.
Following the official welcoming ceremony, the two leaders had a one-on-one discussion, which continued in an expanded format.

The discussion included the current state and further development of bilateral cooperation between the two nations, as well as major international and regional issues.

President Rahmom stressed that since gaining independence a legal base for relations that covers practically all areas of cooperation, from political, trade, economic, cultural to humanitarian spheres, resulted in a relationship that has reached the level of a strategic partnership. The counterparts expressed hope that mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries will continue to actively develop.

The implementation of the Intergovernmental Program of Trade and Economic Cooperation through 2023, as well as creation of a Trade Facilitation Roadmap in the next two years was noted as necessary. They also discussed the issues relating to industry and transportation, emphasizing the importance of increasing the volume of cargo transportation by air and railways through the territory of Turkmenistan and using the Turkmenbashi International Seaport for the benefit of the two nations.

While discussing the issues in the agricultural sphere, they noted the advisability of establishing joint crop and livestock enterprises.

The development of bilateral cooperation in the field of cultural, humanitarian, education, and health care was also touched upon. The two sides reaffirmed their readiness to expand interregional ties, including between the Sughd Province of Tajikistan and the Ahal Province of Turkmenistan.

Exchanging views on the Afghan crisis, they also discussed international terrorism, extremism, religious radicalism, and transnational organized crime, and illicit drug trafficking.

At the end of the talks, President Rahmon invited President Berdimuhamedov to pay a return visit to Tajikistan at a convenient time.

Following the talks, the two presidents signed a Joint Statement of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the President of Turkmenistan. In addition, an exchange of intergovernmental, interdepartmental, and interregional documents were signed in the presence of both leaders.

The documents include memorandums of understanding between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, as well as the 2021-2023 Government-to-Government Trade and Economic Cooperation Program. Other documents concern the establishment of trading houses in both nations, a roadmap for expanding trade and economic cooperation for 2022-2023, the establishment of the Business Council, a cooperation agreement in the manufacturing sector, tourism policy, culture and arts for 2022-2024, youth policy, railway transport, transport of passengers, goods, oil products, and liquefied hydrocarbon, and cooperation agreements between the Drug Control Agency under the President of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan, the executive body of state authority of Sughd and the government of Ahal region of Turkmenistan, the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Tajikistan and the Academy of Civil Service under the President of Turkmenistan.

In addition, the two sides signed a protocol to amend the agreement on mutual travel of citizens from December 30, 1999, cooperation program between the foreign ministries for 2021-2023, memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan and the State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan, Joint Action Plan for the Implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of Tajikistan and the Government of Turkmenistan on Bilateral Recognition of Permits for Construction Activities.