DUSHANBE, May 20, 2009, Asia-Plus — On Tuesday May 19, Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi met in Riyadh with Chairman of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, Al-Waleed Ibn Talal, according to the MFA information department.
Zarifi expressed gratitude for humanitarian aid provided by the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation to the population of Tajikistan.
During the meeting, it was noted that such an aid could be provided to education and health sector as well as orphanages and elderly people who did not have relatives to support in the future as well.
Tajik minister noted that such actions could be held in cooperation with Tajikistan’ Public Charity.
On the economic and trade cooperation between Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia, the sides pointed out timeliness of holding of a business conference with participation of entrepreneurs of the two countries that is expected to take place in Dushanbe from May 22-23.
Al-Waleed Ibn Talal noted that Saudi Arabia was ready to boost bilateral cooperation with Tajikistan in the filed of tourism and relevant industries (construction of hotel complexes).
They sides reached an agreement that the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation delegation led Al-Waleed Ibn Talal would visit Tajikistan.
The sides also touched upon issues related to Tajikistan’s appeal to friendly countries, the United Nations and other authoritative international organizations for help to the population hit by recent torrential rain and resulting floods and mudslides.
In this connection, the Saudi side expressed readiness to study that issue and provide assistance to the disaster-hit population, the MFA information department said.
In the meantime, the Saudi Press Agency reported that Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, received a message addressed to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. The message was delivered to the Second Deputy Premier by Tajikistan”s Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi on May 19 during an audience with the Second Deputy Premier at his office at the Ministry of Interior.
During the meeting, a number of issues of mutual concern to the two countries and ways of enhancing them were discussed.
General Abdur-Rahman bin Ali Ar-Rebian, MoI Undersecretary for Security Affairs, and Salohiddin Nasreddinov, Tajik Ambassador to Riyadh, attended the meeting.
