DUSHANBE, April 12, Asia-Plus – Prospects of bilateral relations between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were main topics of meetings Tajik President Emomali Rahmon held with high-ranking UAE state officials during his official visit to the UAE.
In the course of the talks Rahmon noted that Tajikistan support expansion of regional and interregional cooperation. “I think all necessary conditions are created in Tajikistan for expanding cooperation with Arab countries and Muslim world,” the Tajik president said.
Rahmon’s meeting General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, focused on ways to boost bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries, especially in economic and investment sectors. During the meeting it was noted that General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Tajikistan in 1996 and he is aware of problems facing the country. He vowed to promote expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between the UAE and Tajikistan, according to presidential press service.
Rahmon also met with UAE State Minister for Foreign Policy Muhammad al-Shiali (phonetically spelled). The two exchanged views on state and prospects of cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates both in bilateral format and within framework of regional and international organizations. Presidential press service said that The Tajik president had noted that expansion of relations with Arab and Muslim countries is one of priorities of Tajikistan’s foreign policy.
Tajik president’s meeting with Shaikh Ahmad bin Zayed, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Committee for Investments, focused on issues related to attracting investments in Tajikistan’s economy. Emomali Rahmon noted that under Tajikistan’s long-term national development strategy the country’s gross domestic product should increase 2.5 times before 2015.
President Rahmon also met with Saadat Ahmad al-Mazrui, Abu Dhabi Development Bank, and Muhammad Ali bin Zayed, Vice President of the UAE Central Bank. The sides discussed socioeconomic and inter-bank cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates.
