Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are Strategic Partners

On August 17, 2018, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon arrived in Uzbekistan with a state visit at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon at Tashkent international airport named after Islam Karimov.

As previously reported, the heads of states will thoroughly discuss the implementation of the agreements reached within the framework of the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Tajikistan on March 9-10, 2018, determine the priority areas for further development of cooperation, giving it a long-term and multifaceted character.

Presidents of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan will also exchange views on issues of current international and regional policy.

Following the negotiations, it is planned to adopt a Joint Statement of the Heads of States, sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement, a number of interstate, intergovernmental, interdepartmental documents aimed at enhancing interaction between the two countries in various fields, strengthening traditional brotherly ties between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan people.

The program of the visit of the President of Tajikistan to Uzbekistan also includes meetings with the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis Nurdinjon Ismoilov, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, visit to the city of Samarkand.

* * *

President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, who is in Uzbekistan on a state visit, visited the Mustakillik square.

The distinguished guest laid flowers at the Monument of Independence and Humanism, which is a symbol of our freedom, bright future and noble aspirations.

The President of Tajikistan emphasized that this majestic square is a unique complex reflecting the peaceful policy of Uzbekistan, the noble aspirations of people of the country for the sake of creation and prosperity.

Emomali Rahmon was informed about the architectural solution and a deep meaning of Mustakillik square. It was emphasized that the Monument of Independence and Humanism, erected in the center of the square, plays a special role in promoting the independent way of development chosen by Uzbekistan, demonstrating the creative potential of people of Uzbekistan.

* * *

On August 17, the ceremony of the official meeting of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, who paid a state visit to Uzbekistan, took place at Kuksaroy residence. A guard of honor was lined up in honor of the honored guest.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emomali Rahmon rose to the podium. National anthems of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have sounded. The Presidents passed the guard of honor.

After the official welcoming ceremony, the heads of the two states held a meeting in a narrow format.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev warmly welcomed the President of Tajikistan and emphasized that in a short time, strong cooperation has been established between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and this visit is a logical continuation of consistently developing mutually beneficial and active dialogue.

– Development of friendly relations with neighboring Tajikistan is one of the priority directions of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy. Dear Emomali Sharipovich, Your first state visit to Uzbekistan is a clear evidence of this. We evaluate this as continuation of our political dialogue based on mutual trust and are ready to further raise bilateral relations to a high level and enrich with new practical content, – said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

President of Tajikistan noted that this meeting is an important stage in the process of further development of bilateral relations, a good opportunity to comprehensively analyze the current state and identify priority areas of cooperation.

– Dear Shavkat Miromonovich, we are immensely grateful for Your invitation to visit brotherly Uzbekistan and for the warm welcome. Your state visit to Tajikistan has restored relations between our countries and has given a powerful impetus to their consistent development on the entire range of issues. Thanks to your wise policy, Uzbekistan is achieving great success, people’s confidence in the future is strengthening. Today’s visit will play an important role in improving the wellbeing of our people”, – said Emomali Rahmon.

At the meeting, issues of expansion of cooperation in various spheres, strengthening relations between regions, large enterprises and entrepreneurs of the two countries, intensifying cultural and humanitarian ties were discussed, the sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

* * *

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon continued negotiations in an expanded format with participation of official delegations of the two countries.

Issues of expansion of cooperation in political, trade-economic, transport-communication, investment, agricultural and water management, tourism and other spheres were discussed.

Due to the adopted targeted measures, the trade turnover is dynamically growing. In the first half of this year, the trade turnover increased by 35.1 percent. In 2018, trade agreements were signed for more than $300 million.

The President of Uzbekistan noted that the current trade turnover does not correspond to the potential of the two countries, there are wide unused opportunities for bringing it to 1 billion dollars.

Development of road, rail and air services contributes to the expansion of the scale of trade and economic cooperation. Partnership in the energy sector is strengthening. Since April of this year, natural gas supplies to Tajikistan have been resumed, and the amount of electricity purchased from Tajikistan is increasing. It was noted that both sides are ready to continue making practical efforts for more effective cooperation in transport and development of international transit corridors.

This year became a breakthrough in the history of bilateral relations. Since the beginning of this year, more than 50 meetings have taken place at various levels, four sessions of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation were held.

The visit of the head of Tajikistan will create new opportunities for expanding the use of trade-economic and transport-communication potential of our countries. Most importantly, friendly ties will serve as an important factor in ensuring the well-being of people and sustainable development of Central Asia.

During the negotiations, the need was noted for taking joint measures on expanding cooperation between business structures and border regions of the two countries. Agreements have been reached to accelerate the implementation of projects for the assembly of agricultural machinery, production of building materials, food products, finished textile, electrical products and other goods.

The sides discussed issues of countering terrorism, religious extremism, drug trafficking, transnational crime, other threats and challenges to international security, expressed their readiness to strengthen mutual understanding and constructive cooperation in implementation of large hydropower projects.

* * *

Following the negotiations at the residence of Kuksaroy, the signing ceremony of bilateral documents took place.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon signed the Joint Statement and the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tajikistan.

 

26 documents on cooperation in the areas of standardization, metrology and certification, antimonopoly policy and consumer rights protection, conduction of joint scientific research in geology, cooperation in the military, scientific and technical, agricultural spheres, in the areas of food security, education, youth policy, culture and art were also signed.

Agreements have been reached on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural-humanitarian cooperation between the regions of the two countries, in particular Surkhandarya and Khatlon, Samarkand and Sughd regions.

The heads of states expressed satisfaction with the negotiations and the signed agreements, emphasized that the most important of them is the Strategic Partnership Agreement.

* * *

Following Uzbekistan – Tajikistan high-level negotiations, a briefing was held for the mass media representatives.

Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emomali Rahmon noted that the negotiations were held in the spirit of openness and mutual understanding, the signed documents will serve the interests of people of the two countries.

– The first state visit of the President of Tajikistan, my friend and brother, the respected Emomali Rahmon to our country, opened new horizons for bilateral cooperation. We discussed current issues of strengthening cooperation in political, trade-economic, transport, hydropower and other important spheres. As a result of the large-scale and painstaking work implemented jointly, the Strategic Partnership Agreement was signed today. This testifies to the beginning of a new era in our relations, – said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

 

– We consider the results of the high-level negotiations held with respected Shavkat Miromonovich as very fruitful and satisfactory. They confirmed the mutual desire and firm intention to strengthen Uzbekistan – Tajikistan relations on the basis of strategic partnership, mutual respect, friendship and good-neighborliness. During my first state visit to Uzbekistan, there are no more unsolved issues, we achieved concrete results on the entire agenda. I am confident that this will give its positive results in the future, – said Emomali Rahmon.

The President of Tajikistan, as a sign of friendship and sincere fraternal relations between people of the two countries, presented Shavkat Mirziyoyev with “Chashmai hirad” book – a collection of works by the great poet and thinker Alisher Navoi in the Tajik language.

The state visit of the President of Tajikistan to Uzbekistan continues.

* * *

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon got acquainted with the exhibition of industrial products of Tajikistan organized at “Uzexpocentre” NEC.

At this exhibition, which has become a kind of a platform for businessmen of the two countries, products of companies operating in various industries, as well as innovative projects and developments of universities, research and production centers are presented.

Trade and economic cooperation between the two countries is consistently developing. Cars and trucks, agricultural machinery, products of metallurgical, electrical, food and textile industries, building materials are exported from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan, and construction materials, cement, aluminum and other goods are supplied from Tajikistan to Uzbekistan.

Becoming acquainted with the exposition, the Presidents noted that such exhibitions are important in further development of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. They noted that the expansion of cooperation between the sectors of the economy of the two countries is aimed at improving production processes and further promotion of goods.

* * *

Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emomali Rahmon visited Artel plant in Tashkent and got acquainted with production process.

In Uzbekistan, ensuring the needs of the population in household appliances on the basis of import substitution is one of the priority directions of the state policy. As a result of wide opportunities, the production of household appliances under the trademark Artel has started in 2011. Over the past period, the company has mastered production of more than 20 types of household appliances of 500 models.

Today, the Artel trademark with its modern, qualitative and affordable production has strong positions in the markets not only of the neighboring countries, but also of the far abroad. Refrigerators, TVs, mobile phones and smart phones, washing machines, gas stoves, air conditioners, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners and energy-saving lamps that meet the world standards have won consumers’ trust.

The heads of states inspected the exhibition of Artel products, organized at the company. The honored guest was informed about the range, quality system and workplaces.

Emomali Rahmon became familiar with the technological production process of air conditioners and TVs, highly appreciated their quality.

* * *

“Friendship Evening” concert with participation of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan masters of art was held in Uzbekistan Palace of International Forums.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that Uzbekistan and Tajikistan people had lived side by side and overcome difficulties and hardships together from time immemorial.

– Uzbekistan and Tajikistan people are like two branches of one tree, two tributaries of one river. We have one religion, common land and water. We are together in joy and sorrow, united by one destiny. Continuing good traditions of our ancestors, we must strengthen and preserve the friendship of our people, – said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

At the event, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan awarded Emomali Rahmon with the order “El-yurt hurmati” (“Respected by people and homeland”) for the enormous contribution to strengthening bilateral relations and friendship between people of the two countries.

The President of Tajikistan, expressing sincere gratitude for such a high award, noted that today’s level of relations is a historic achievement of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan people.

The Friendship Evening has become a vivid confirmation of the ever-strengthening cooperation between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the lasting friendship of people of the two countries.

The state visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to Uzbekistan continues.