DUSHANBE, April 15, 2013, Asia-Plus – On Monday April 15, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received visiting Indian Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.
According to the Tajik president’s official website, the sides discussed a broad range of issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between their countries.
Counter terrorism and security cooperation as well as boosting bilateral political, economic and cultural cooperation reportedly figured in the talks.
The sides noted that there was considerable room for expansion of economic ties between the two countries.
Legal foundation of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and India includes more than 50 government-to-government and inter-agency cooperation agreements. Twelve cooperation documents were signed during Tajik president’s visit to India in September 2012 alone.
Rahmon and Ansari reportedly pointed to the necessity of intensification of activities of the Tajik-Indian commission for trade and economic cooperation.
The sides also exchanged views on the latest developments in Afghanistan and the post-2014 NATO forces withdrawal situation, as well as cooperation to support reconstruction of Afghanistan’s economy.
Relations between India and Tajikistan have traditionally been cordial and close. During the last State visit of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to India in 2012 both countries elevated their bilateral relationship to the level of Strategic Partnership. President Rahmon has visited India five times. The then Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil visited Tajikistan in September 2009 and the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Tajikistan in 2003.
