DUSHANBE, 26.03.2026 (NIAT Khovar) – Discussions on the current state and future prospects of friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan continued at the first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council, attended by official delegations from both sides.

The official talks commenced with mutual congratulations on the occasion of the international holiday of Nowruz, which holds profound historical and cultural significance for both neighbouring countries.

During the inaugural meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council—established as a testament to the high level of strategic partnership and allied relations between the two states—a wide range of issues related to the further strengthening and expansion of bilateral cooperation was discussed.

It was noted with satisfaction that the volume of bilateral trade is approaching 1 billion US dollars, with confidence expressed that this figure will reach 2 billion US dollars by 2030.

It was highlighted that 410 enterprises with Tajik capital currently operate in Uzbekistan, while 131 joint Tajik–Uzbek enterprises are active in Tajikistan. Significant progress was also noted in expanding cooperation in key strategic sectors, including energy, industry, transport, and agriculture.

Furthermore, the creation of favorable conditions for mutual travel between the two countries, including for tourism purposes, was highlighted as one of the notable achievements of recent years. In this context, the Leader of the Nation noted that in 2025, approximately 2.8 million citizens of Tajikistan visited Uzbekistan, while more than 1.1 million citizens of Uzbekistan traveled to Tajikistan.

The parties expressed satisfaction with the successful holding, within the framework of the visit, of a joint sectoral product exhibition in Tashkent, the Days of Tajik Culture in Uzbekistan, and the interregional business forum held in Jizzakh.

The sides underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation in the introduction of new technologies and advanced scientific achievements, as well as supporting young scientists and innovators.

Particular attention was paid to the further development of cooperation in the fields of education, healthcare, youth policy, sports, and tourism.

Strengthening cooperation between law enforcement agencies was also identified as an important area of discussion, particularly in the context of joint efforts to combat terrorism, extremism, cybercrime, drug trafficking, and other forms of transnational organized crime.

Special emphasis was placed on cooperation in regional and global affairs. His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, assessing the regional situation as complex, stressed the need for continued joint efforts to effectively address shared challenges.