Iran’s Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said on December 4 that based on an agreement made with the Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources Usmonali Usmonzoda as Tajik co-chairman of the joint economic commission for trade and economic cooperation, the two countries will make optimal use of the existing scientific capacities.
They will hold joint educational courses and exchange scientific and specialized forces, Ardakanian was quoted as saying by Iranian media outlets.
Addressing a ceremony of 'Persian-Tajik Language Night' late on December 4, he added that Iran and Tajikistan have concluded good deals in line with boosting economic relationships, according to IRNA.
Ardakanian further noted that valuable agreements were made in line with enhancing economic, cultural and scientific ties during the 13th Meeting of Iran-Tajikistan Joint Economic Commission.
He reportedly also hoped that Tajik president's imminent visit to Tehran will pave way for further development of ties in these areas.
Iranian energy minister also said that Iran is ready to grant scholarships to the Tajik experts to use the country's educational and research capacities.
Relations between Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran are warming up.
In mid-February, former Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that Tehran is eager to further expand ties with Dushanbe as it considers its ties with Tajikistan as “familial.”
In March, Tajikistan's Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda, at a meeting with Iran's outgoing Ambassador Hojatullah Faqani, said that Dushanbe is determined to increase economic and commercial relations with Tehran, calling for increase in volume of trade between the two countries.
“Welcome to your second homeland,” President Emomali Rahmon told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani upon his arrival in Dushanbe for the fifth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), on June 15.
