DUSHANBE, 18.09.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – Dushanbe has hosted talks between President of Tajikistan and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi.

After the official welcoming ceremony and performing of both nations’ anthems, President Emomali Rahmon met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a restricted format. Later Tajik-Iranian summit talks continued in the presence of both delegations.

Topics on the agenda included issues pertaining to bilateral cooperation, as well as major international and regional matters.

The officials stressed that the shared cultural values and language between the two countries can serve as a favorable basis for further development of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.

In addition, the leaders discussed expanding and strengthening cooperation in various promising areas, such as trade and economy, communications, energy, industry, culture, education, science, and security.

They expressed their satisfaction with the significant work of the Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Technical and Cultural Cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran.

The officials proposed to develop a long-term program of economic and trade cooperation up to 2030 in order to increase trade turnover between the two nations. In this context, hydropower, mining, industry, and agriculture, as well as construction of dams and enterprises for the production of medicines would be priority areas.

They also noted the necessity of developing existing transport infrastructure and connecting it through road and rail network to Iran’s seaport.

The discussion of security issues focused on collaboration between intelligence agencies of both states in the fight against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and other modern threats, benefits for both countries and the region.

The counterparts also expressed concern over the political and military situation in Afghanistan, noting the danger that threatens the security and stability of the region as a whole.

The two sides looked in detail at the prospect of further expanding integration within international and regional organizations, such as the UN, ECO, OIC and SCO.

The Tajik side welcomed opening the procedure for Iran’s membership in the SCO, and expressed confidence that relations between the two countries within the framework of SCO will contribute to finding new ways to strengthen constructive cooperation.