Pakistan, Tajikistan sign several MoUs
Pakistan and Tajikistan have signed several agreements following a visit of the President of Tajikistan.
These agreements will result in cooperation in different areas of the economy, education, business, and other sectors.
At the invitation of Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon paid an official visit to Pakistan on 2-3 June 2021. President Rahmon was accompanied by a high-level delegation.
During bilateral meetings, the two leaders held in-depth and wide-ranging discussions covering all aspects of bilateral cooperation and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Both leaders reaffirmed the fraternal ties existing between the two countries marked by shared faith, history, culture, and geography. While expressing satisfaction at the steadily growing relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan, the two leaders expressed their resolve to elevate bilateral ties to a new level of strategic cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples.
The leaders extended felicitations to each other on the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two brotherly countries. Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the independence of the Republic of Tajikistan in 1991. The Prime Minister also congratulated the President on assuming the current Chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the excellent bilateral cooperation at the multilateral fora, including the UN, OIC, ECO and SCO.
They reiterated their commitment to further strengthen multilateral cooperation in the future for global and regional peace and development.
The leaders expressed serious concern at the outbreak of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world that has resulted in the loss of many precious lives and caused huge economic losses, especially for developing countries. To effectively combat the pandemic, they emphasized the importance of international solidarity and cooperation as well as joint efforts for affordable and equitable supply and distribution of vaccines to all countries in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Recalling the signing of two Joint Declarations entitled (i) Joint Declaration on “Road to Strategic Partnership for Regional Solidarity”; and (ii) Joint Declaration on “Strengthening the Road to Strategic Partnership for Regional Integration”, adopted at leadership level in 2017 and 2018, respectively, the two leaders agreed to initiate steps towards formalizing the strategic partnership agreement between the two countries for the peace, progress, and prosperity at the earliest.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the existing inter-parliamentary cooperation and agreed to have regular exchanges of parliamentary delegations for further deepening bilateral ties.
During high-level talks, the two sides accorded particular focus to bolstering bilateral economic and trade ties by exploring new opportunities and avenues, particularly in the backdrop of Tajikistan’s National Development Strategy (NDS) – 2030 and Pakistan’s development priorities shifting from geo-politics to geo-economics.
The two leaders underscored the importance of regularly convening the meetings of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties. They emphasized the need for full implementation and regular follow-up to its decisions. It was agreed to hold the next session of the Inter-Governmental Commission later this year.
The two leaders noted with satisfaction the activities of multiple Joint Working Groups (JWGs) constituted to further boost the already growing bilateral cooperation in various fields, particularly trade, investment, transport, energy, culture, and tourism.
They highlighted the role of the Joint Business Council (JBC) constituted between the two countries in building direct business linkages and urged to hold its meetings regularly by the Chambers of Commerce and private sectors. They also agreed to organize trade exhibitions and business forums on a regular basis with a view to boosting bilateral trade. The leaders also recognized the need for creating a more investor-friendly environment in the two countries in particular to encourage and facilitate joint investments.
The two leaders noted with appreciation the progress achieved in the implementation of the flagship power project of CASA-1000 and reiterated their resolve to complete the project at the earliest. They agreed that the materialization of the project will establish energy connectivity leading to prosperity for all. They emphasized the need to tap the vast potential that remains unexplored, particularly in the areas of trade, energy, connectivity, agriculture, and industry for mutual benefit.
The two leaders emphasized enhanced cooperation in education, culture and tourism through mutual development and joint ventures and highlighted the need to facilitate people-to-people contacts.
They underscored the importance of the road, rail, and air links between the two countries for the promotion of bilateral as well as regional connectivity and resolved to improve the existing facilities and explore new options for improving rail, road, and air connectivity. The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s support of Tajikistan’s membership in the Quadrilateral Traffic-in-Transit Agreement (QTTA).
The Prime Minister informed the President about the operationalization of Gwadar Seaport and offered Tajikistan to avail the facility of Pakistani seaports and CPEC. The Prime Minister highlighted that Pakistani seaports offer the most efficient and economic route to Central Asian countries including Tajikistan.
In these regards, the President of Tajikistan offered to convene a joint working group to address issues of transit trade at the earliest and invite Afghanistan to participate in its meeting to boost trade and commerce with the view to engage the broader region in this process.
The two leaders noted with pleasure the growing bilateral cooperation in the field of defense & security and reiterated their resolve to further boost the same in order to overcome the common security challenges faced by the two countries and the region as a whole. They emphasized the need to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, combating cross-border organized crime and human and drug trafficking, and agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Working Group on Countering International Terrorism at an early date.
The Tajik side appreciated Pakistan’s immense contribution to the global efforts against terrorism. Both leaders vowed to further deepen mutual cooperation in the common fight against terrorism and extremism.
The Tajik side appreciated Pakistan’s continued humanitarian, material and technical support for Tajikistan’s development and progress. The President also appreciated the excellence and expertise of Pakistani institutions in the field of learning and training of professionals in various fields.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues and urged the international community to play its active role and help peacefully resolve all the outstanding disputes around the world in line with the UN Security Council resolutions and the principles of international law.
The two leaders also discussed the adverse effects of climate change, and environmental challenges in the region and agreed to step up efforts and adopt joint measures. The Prime Minister recognized the role of Tajikistan in the field of Water Diplomacy by hosting international moots in recent years to draw the attention of the international community towards better management of water resources.
The two leaders exchanged views on the rise of Islamophobia worldwide and expressed support for the joint initiatives and collective efforts of the OIC to combat this scourge including through the designation of 15 March as International Day to combat Islamophobia by the UN General Assembly.
Both leaders had an in-depth discussion on the security situation in Afghanistan and the ongoing peace process. The President appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating the Afghan peace process. The two sides emphasized an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led resolution of the conflict through an inclusive negotiated political settlement.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan extended his best wishes for successful organization of the 20th Anniversary of SCO Council of Heads of State meeting scheduled to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 16-17 September 2021.
In order to further deepen and diversify the bilateral relations, the following legal instruments were signed:
- Cooperation Programme between Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Tajikistan
- Agreement on International Road Transport
iii. Agreement between the Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in the field of Art and Culture
- Memorandum of Understanding between Tajik Institute of Languages, Dushanbe, Tajikistan and National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, Pakistan
- Memorandum of Understanding between Technological University of Tajikistan and COMSATS University Islamabad
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for Cooperation in the field of Prevention and Liquidation of Emergency Situations
vii. Memorandum of Understanding Between Agency for State Financial Control and Struggle Against Corruption of the Republic of Tajikistan and National Accountability Bureau of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
viii. Memorandum of Understanding between Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan
- Agreement on Cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Agreement on Cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Quetta Balochistan of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Academic Cooperation Agreement between Tajik Technical University named after academician M.S. Osimi and Indus University of Pakistan
- The two leaders appreciated each other about the outcomes of the current bilateral visit. They expressed confidence that the understanding reached during the talks would further deepen cooperation between the two countries. The President of Tajikistan thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for his warm and gracious hospitality and once again invited him to take part in the Jubilee SCO Summit in Dushanbe and to pay an official visit to Tajikistan.
