Dushanbe, 03.05.2016 /NIAT “Khovar”/. The President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani will pay an official visit to the Republic of Tajikistan in the first decade of May.

During the visit the Afghan President together with presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan will attend the ceremony of launching the construction of the energy project CASA-1000.

“The development of relations of friendship and cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, being one of the priority directions of the foreign policy of Tajikistan, meets the national interests of our country, promotes its economic development, as well as peace and security in the region», — was stated in the materials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan devoted to bilateral relations of Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and Afghanistan were established on July15, 1992.

The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was officially opened in 2002.
Aiming at implementation of the Agreement on friendship, cooperation and good neighbourhood, Presidents of the both countries met in years 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2013 in Tajikistan and in 1993, 1995 and 2010 in Afghanistan. During the meetings two presidents discussed a wide range of issues of mutual concern. As a result of the meetings more than 70 agreements have been signed, which created solid basis for developing cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

It is worth to mention that Tajikistan always initiates summit meetings as well as international and regional conferences which deal with maintaining peace and security in Afghanistan, and social and economic development of the country. In this regard, at the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, The Fifth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA V) was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on March 26-27, 2012 to further develop and consolidate cooperation and partnership towards promoting peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.

To further promote friendly relations both countries also collaborate in regional — trilateral (Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran) and quadrilateral (Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-Russia) formats to enhance cooperation in different areas, as well as regional and international issues and promote mutual understanding.

Currently 5 bridges have been built across river Panj between the two countries. They promote strengthening trade and transit cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Tajikistan and Afghanistan are closely cooperating in a culture-humanitarian field. In 2013 Tajikistan provided 50 scholarships for Afghani citizens for the years 2013 -2014.