DUSHANBE, 10.03.2022 (NIAT Khovar) – The Al-Ittihadiya Palace hosted talks between President Emomali Rahmon and President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The official welcoming ceremony and introduction of the members of the two nations’ delegations was held before the start of the talks.

President Rahmon and President El-Sisi met in the restricted format before continuing talks with the participation of their respective delegations.

The talks focused the current state and future prospects of bilateral and multilateral ties, as well as major international and regional issues.

Inter-parliamentary ties and strengthening of activities of inter-parliamentary friendship groups was another item of the meeting agenda.

Both sides expressed interest in boosting cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, industry, investment, agriculture, health care, energy, transportation, communication, mining, and tourism.

The stepping-up of the work of the Tajik-Egyptian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation was noted as vital.

The sides underscored the need for commencement of the organizing of the Tajik-Egyptian Business Forum and the establishment of the Business Council.

The implementation of joint investment projects in industry, agriculture, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals was considered as a new promising area of economic engagement.

The sides reiterated their interest to strengthen cooperation between the Tajik – Egyptian free economic zones through the exchange of experiences and the establishment of joint ventures.

On the basis of common historical and cultural values, the sides also agreed to facilitate the collaboration between Tajik and Egyptian scientific and educational institutions for exchange of experiences, as well as for organizing the Days of Culture and a joint celebration of the jubilee of the great figures of literature and culture.

The expansion of cooperation in the field of tourism, using the existing experience and opportunities between the two countries was called one of the most beneficial areas of cooperation between the two countries.

Recalling their close position on important regional and international issues, the two sides expressed their support for the continuation of their partnership within the framework of international and regional organizations.

They reaffirmed their commitment to combat international terrorism, extremism, illicit arms and drug trafficking, cybercrime, transnational organized crime, and other threats.

There was a detailed exchange of views on security issues and ways to end conflicts as soon as possible in the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan.

Global issues related to water and climate change were also touched upon.

Following the meeting, President Rahmon and President El-Sisi witnessed the signing of an agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Higher Education of the Arab Republic of Egypt, an agreement of brotherhood and friendship between Khatlon of Tajikistan and the Sinai region of the Arab Republic of Egypt, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of Agriculture, another memorandum between the Committee for Youth Affairs and Sports of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Arab Republic of Egypt, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the National Library of Tajikistan and the Center of Written Heritage of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Egyptian National Library and Archives.

The officials stressed that the agreements reached today will provide a favorable basis for bringing relations between the two countries to a qualitatively new level.