DUSHANBE, July 29, 2009, Asia-Plus — Three cooperation documents have been singed between Tajikistan and Pakistan in Dushanbe.
Today morning, visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met with his Tajik counterpart, President Emomali Rahmon to discuss ways to boost bilateral cooperation in energy and power sector. Their talks were followed by an enlarged meeting with participation of the government delegations of the two countries.
The presidents inked a joint declaration on further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan. Two other cooperation documents, including the program of cooperation between the MFAs of the two countries for 2009-2012 and the protocol of exchange of notes on ratification of the government-to-government agreement between Tajikistan and Pakistan on mutual protection of investments, were signed by Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
As it had been reported earlier, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived here Tuesday evening on a three-day official visit. According to some Pakistani media, a number of high-ranking Pakistani state officials, including foreign minister, interior minister, commerce minister, industries minister and some other senior officials, are accompanying President Zardari on his visit to Tajikistan.
Today, President Zardari is also scheduled to hold talks with Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev and Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov.
Two regional summits will take place in Dushanbe. A tripartite meeting of the presidents of Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan to discuss energy cooperation issues will be held here on Thursday and a quadripartite meeting with participation of the leaders of these countries and Russian president will take place on Friday.
Besides discussion on the ways and means to enhance regional cooperation in trade, energy, communication and transportation, the leaders of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Russia are expected to deliberate on the challenges facing the region including terrorism and production and trafficking of drugs and illicit weapons.
