Dushanbe: Pakistan and Tajikistan, building on the previous understandings and given the strong desire of two countries to further promote mutual cooperation in diverse areas, have decided to upgrade the bilateral relations to the level of a long-term strategic partnership.
The decision was taken during the two-day official visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Tajikistan on the invitation of President Emomali Rahmon. Prime Minister Imran Khan also participated in the Jubilee Summit of the Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) besides his official visit.
According to a joint statement issued at the conclusion of Imran Khan's visit, the two leaders had wide-ranging deliberations covering all aspects of the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation, and regional and international issues of common interest during the two leaders private conversation and delegation-level talks.
PM Imran Khan commended President Emomali Rahmon for hosting the Jubilee Summit of the Council of Heads of State of SCO and other events in Dushanbe during the SCO Chairmanship of Republic of Tajikistan. Both leaders agreed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan in 2022 in a befitting manner. The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the growing mutually beneficial political, trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
In this regard, the two leaders further agreed to work towards signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement. The two leaders accorded particular focus on further strengthening of reliable and constructive high-level contacts, inter-parliamentary ties, defence and security relations between the two countries.
They underscored the importance of expansion of mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation, improvement of investment and trade environment between the two countries and mobilization of direct investments, creation of joint ventures, increasing the volume of bilateral trade and expansion of the list of commodities.
In this context, they highlighted the need to bolster the activities of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation and decided to hold its next meeting in Islamabad in December 2021. The two leaders appreciated the fourth meeting of the Joint Business Council held on September 16, 2021 in Dushanbe.
The two leaders agreed to regularly convene the meetings and follow up to the decisions of the permanent economic mechanisms for mutually beneficial cooperation, including the Joint Business Council of Tajikistan and Pakistan, and Joint Working Groups in multiple areas, in particular the Joint Working Group on Oil and Gas, Joint Working Group on Energy and Infrastructure, Joint Working Group on Education, Science and Technology and Joint Working Group on Tourism at the earliest.
They noted with satisfaction the organization of an exhibition of the Pakistani goods in Tajikistan and the regular holding of 'Made in Pakistan' exhibition in Dushanbe. In the energy sector, the two leaders noted the need to establish mutually beneficial cooperation in the implementation of energy projects, including the construction of hydropower plants and transmission lines with mutual investment.
They also reiterated their resolve for timely completion of the important 'CASA-1000' power transmission project. The parties expressed their readiness to expand cooperation in transport. They agreed to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in transport infrastructure corridors for bilateral and transit trade between the two countries and creation of favorable conditions for the transportation of goods through the territory of respective countries.
They particularly noted the importance of construction of railways and highways from Tajikistan to Karachi and Gwadar seaports of Pakistan and the need for integration of Tajikistan with regional transport projects. The two leaders stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in industry. To this end, a proposal was made to establish Pakistani companies in the free economic zones of Tajikistan for the final processing of agricultural products, including cotton.
The two leaders attached particular attention to strengthening the scientific, technological, and cultural cooperation. The parties noted the need to further expand cooperation in health, pharmaceutical, medical, natural disaster management and emergency sectors, including through joint ventures in Tajikistan and Pakistan.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the steady development of cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan in the fields of security and defense, and noted the importance of strengthening ties between the relevant authorities of the two countries. The Tajikistan side also recognized the importance of Pakistan's assistance in strengthening its military capacity.
The parties stressed the need for further expansion of cooperation in countering international terrorism, extremism, illegal migration, drug and psychotropic substance trafficking, transnational organized crime and other challenges at bilateral level as well as within the international and regional organizations.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed to work together to strengthen peace, stability and security in the region, particularly in Afghanistan. In this context, the parties stressed that the importance of stability and socio-economic revival of Afghanistan is crucial for peace and security in the region.
The two sides also welcomed and supported each other's candidacy to the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the term 2025-2026 for Pakistan and 2028-2029 for Tajikistan. They commended the strong trust existing between the two countries and reaffirmed that the strategic partnership between Tajikistan and Pakistan contributed towards promoting stability and security in the region.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan thanked the President of Tajikistan and the people of Tajikistan for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended to him and his delegation during the official visit.
Posted by : Admin on Sep 18, 2021 11:29 AM
