President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, paid a state visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from November 11-13, at the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The President was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising the ministers, senior officials and prominent businessmen. The President and his delegation were accorded a warm welcome.
President Emomali Rahmon had a meeting with the President of Pakistan and a tête-à-tête with the Prime Minister, followed by delegation-level talks. During their meetings, the leaders discussed a wide range of matters relating to bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual concern. Both the leaders noted with satisfaction the steady growth in the bilateral relations and resolved to tap the vast potential in the areas of trade, energy, defence, agriculture, industry and regional transport communication networks.
To further promote economic cooperation, both the leaders emphasised the need to hold Joint Ministerial Commission meeting at the earliest. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the formation of the Joint Business Council (JBC), hoping the areas of cooperation identified by the JBC would further boost trade between the two countries. They directed the JBC to hold regular meetings.
In the area of energy cooperation, both the leaders noted with appreciation the progress achieved in the implementation of CASA-1000 Power Project and hoped that the project would be completed by 2018. They instructed the Joint Commission on Energy and Infrastructure to hold its first meeting to further explore and identify new projects for export of electricity to Pakistan. In order to facilitate trade and transportation between the two countries and in the region, the two sides reiterated their resolve to work with Afghanistan for early finalisation and signing of Trilateral Transit Trade Agreement (TTTA).
Both the leaders commended the successful holding of Made in Pakistan exhibitions at Dushanbe from October 29-31, and reiterated the need to hold such national exhibitions in future in Pakistan and Tajikistan. The two leaders recalled their understanding arrived at during the Prime Minister's visit to Tajikistan in 2014 to increase the bilateral trade to 500 million dollars in three years. They directed all concerned to take effective measures to achieve the target of bilateral trade.
President Rahmon expressed appreciation for the generous offers by Pakistan for human resource development in Tajikistan in various areas, in particular diplomacy and defence. The two leaders recognised the importance of air connectivity for the promotion of people-to-people contacts, economic relations and tourism.
President Rahmon welcomed the decision by Pakistan to permit Somon Air of Tajikistan to operate on Dushanbe-Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Faisalabad or Quetta sectors and hoped for early resumption of flight connections between the two countries. The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan's offer to Tajikistan to use Pakistani sea ports for its imports and exports as those Pakistani ports provided the shortest route to the sea.
President Rahmon welcomed the development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which will also facilitate connectivity between Pakistan and Tajikistan and other Central Asian States. The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan's support to the request by Tajikistan to accede to the Quadrilateral Agreement on Traffic in Transit among China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan. This will further improve regional connectivity.
Keeping in view the security situation in the region, the two leaders emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation against threats of extremism and terrorism, cross-border organised crime, drugs and human trafficking and other threats to regional and global security.
Both the leaders also discussed regional and international issues including Afghanistan and reaffirmed their resolve to support reconciliation process in Afghanistan, which was crucial for peace and stability in the country and the region. They also resolved to support the Heart of Asia-Istanbul process, Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan and other multilateral processes for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
Both the leaders noted with satisfaction the excellent cooperation between these countries at the UN, OIC, ECO, SCO and other multilateral regional and international fora.
The two leaders agreed that reform of the UN Security Council should aim at making this important body more democratic, representative, accountable and transparent. It should take into account interests of the large majority of the developing countries rather than creating more centers of privilege for a few.
The following agreements /MoUs were signed in the presence of the two leaders: Treaty on Extradition between Pakistan and Tajikistan; Cooperation Agreement in the field of energy between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Memorandum of understanding for enhancement of cooperation in industrial sector between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Agreement for the establishment of Joint Business Council (JBC) between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Programme of cooperation (POC) between Academy of sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan and Pakistan council of scientific and industrial research (PCSIR) Ministry of science and technology on "exploitation of indigenous and exotic medicinal plants for herbal drugs"; Programme of cooperation (POC) for scientific research cooperation between Institute of geology, earthquake engineering and seismology, Academy of sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan and Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH).
President Emomali Rahmon expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for extending warm welcome and generous hospitality to him and his entourage. President Emomali Rahmon extended an invitation to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to pay a state visit to Tajikistan, which was accepted. The dates for the visit will be determined through diplomatic channels.-PR
Comments
Comments are closed.