— Within the framework of an official visit of Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov to Tajikistan negotiations between the government delegations of the two countries were held in an extended format in Dushanbe yesterday.
According to Kyrgyzstan’s Kabar news agency, Jeenbekov once again thanked Rahmon for the invitation to have an official visit to Tajikistan, as well as for his provided warm welcome and hospitality.
Jeenbekov reportedly stressed that during a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in a narrow format they discussed a wide range of issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and reached mutual understanding on many of them.
Kyrgyz leader pointed to the necessity of taking joint effective measures in the sphere of protecting state borders, combating terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking, Kabar said.
He also stressed that concrete measures should be taken to intensify trade and economic cooperation and create favorable conditions for increasing the volume of goods turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
“In this regard, I propose that we instruct the governments of our countries to develop mechanisms for cooperation in export, import and re-export of goods, taking into account the membership of Kyrgyzstan in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the presence of the status of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences + (GSP+). Establish cooperation between chambers of commerce and explore the possibility of creating Business Council between our republics. It is necessary to help business circles and economic entities of our countries in establishing contacts and concluding contracts," Jeenbekov said.
The Kyrgyz president also proposed to conduct in near future a business forum with participation of Tajik entrepreneurs in Bishkek.
In addition, to create the necessary conditions for mutual travels citizens and development of tourism, Jeenbekov suggested that the number of flights between the countries on Bishkek-Dushanbe-Bishkek route should be increased.
“We are very grateful and glad to the participation of Tajik athletes in the First and Second World Nomad Games. I hope that Tajikistan will support and take an active part in the Third World Nomad Games, which will be held in Kyrgyzstan in September of this year. We also invite the Tajik side to take part in the International Festival dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the great Kyrgyz writer Chyngyz Aitmatov and the 30th anniversary of the Issyk-Kul Forum," the Kyrgyz leader said.
Jeenbekov also emphasized that Kyrgyzstan is interested in promoting common positions of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on introduction of rational water use mechanisms in the region. “In this regard, it is necessary to make joint efforts to develop regional cooperation in the framework of the Agreement between the Governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on the Use of Water and Energy Resources of the Syr Darya River Basin dated from March 17, 1998,” he said.
The Kyrgyz president noted that Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan share similar stances on key issues of international agenda and closely cooperate within international and regional organizations.
Jeenbekov invited Rahmon to visit Kyrgyzstan with a return official visit at any time convenient for him, according to Kabar.
