TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran and Tajikistan signed 17 cooperation documents in various fields including politics, economy, trade and tourism.
Senior officials of Iran and Tajikistan signed 17 cooperation documents in the fields of politics, economy, trade, transportation, investment, new technologies, environment, sports, energy, judiciary, education and research, and tourism in the presence of President Ebrahim Raisi and President Emomali Rahmon.
These documents were signed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Industry, Mines and Trade, Petroleum, Roads and Urban Development, Energy, Economic Affairs and Finance, Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Justice, Sports and Youth Affairs, and Cooperation, Labour and Social Welfare, and Heads of the Exchange and Securities Organization and the Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture of Iran and their Tajik counterparts.
Referring to the increase in trade relations between Iran and Tajikistan, President Raisi said that Tehran and Dushanbe are determined to strengthen relations in all fields.
Speaking at the joint press conference with his Tajik counterpart, Rahmon, President Raisi said that Iran and Tajikistan have very good relations due to neighborhood, cultural and religious relations, common language and civilization.
Referring to his recent visit to Dushanbe at the invitation of his Tajik counterpart to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Raisi said, “The trip was a turning point in relations between the two countries. Today we see a fourfold increase in trade relations between Iran and Tajikistan. Good measures have been also taken in other fields, especially in the implementation of the agreements signed between the two countries in Dushanbe.”
He also added that big steps will be taken to strengthen relations between the two countries with the signing of the new memorandum between Iran and Tajikistan. “We are determined to continue the political, economic, cultural relations, as well as relations in various fields between the two countries.”
Stating that good bilateral relations can be turned into good regional relations, Raisi said that Iran and Tajikistan have a common view about the presence of foreigners in the region. “We believe that the presence of the foreigners in the region will not provide the security of the region and the regional issues must be solved through dialogue, negotiation and joint meetings.”
The two countries also have a common view about the developments in Afghanistan, the Iranian President said, adding that an inclusive government must be formed in Afghanistan, and all parties in Afghanistan must be involved in forming a government. The security of Afghanistan is also very important for Iran and Tajikistan.
“The 20-year presence of the United States and NATO in Afghanistan had nothing but the war and insecurity for the country, so the fate of Afghanistan must be decided by the people of the country,” he added.
Rahmon, for his part, said that strengthening cooperation between Iran and Tajikistan is one of Tajikistan’s foreign policies.
Meanwhile Raisi said the Islamic Republic and Tajikistan share common views on regional issues and agree on the need for the withdrawal of foreign forces from the region as they will not ensure the establishment of security and stability there.
“Iran and Tajikistan have common views on regional issues, including the withdrawal of foreign forces,” he said.
“We believe that the presence of foreigners in the region has not and will not provide security in any way,” he said.
The Iranian president noted that regional countries need to resolve their issues through dialog, adding that “the presence of foreigners in the region is not helpful.”
The Iranian president also called for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, which would represent all political groups and ethnicities there, stating that Tehran and Dushanbe attach great significance to the security of Afghanistan.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Raisi said the trade volume between Iran and Tajikistan has increased fourfold and that the two countries are determined to expand their political, economic, trade, and cultural relations, as well as ties in various fields of energy, tourism, mining, science, and technology.
Rahmon, for his part, added new documents were signed on Monday for bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran in various fields.
“We had constructive talks on enhancement of understanding between the two sides. We agreed to expand cooperation among our free trade and industrial zones. We welcome expansion of transportation through Iran’s southern Bandar Abbas and Chabahar ports,” he said.
The Tajik president also underscored that Dushanbe supports any efforts to maintain security in Afghanistan
