On July 7, 2020, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin had a telephone conversation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Toshimitsu Motegi.
At the beginning of the conversation, Tajik Foreign Minister offered deep condolences to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan over deadly floods and landslides in southern Japan, according to the Tajik MFA information department.
In the course of the telephone talk, the two reportedly discussed the state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Japan in various areas.
On the subject of collaboration between the two countries in the field of healthcare and medicine, Muhriddin and Motegi emphasized the importance of continuation of mutual aid and joint measures aimed at preventing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan expressed his gratitude to Japan for its assistance in the fields of infrastructure, health, sanitation, public welfare, training and skills development within the framework of the Official Development Assistance (ODA).
It was recalled that education and development of human resources are one of the priority issues in Tajikistan, specialists from Tajikistan took various training courses in Japan. Positive contribution is brought by the Project for Human Resources Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS) in international relations, law, economic and management areas and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the economy and social spheres in Tajikistan.
They also discussed a number of international and mutual issues being of mutual interest.
Meanwhile, Japan’s MFA notes that at the outset, Minister Motegi expressed his respect for the efforts by the government of Tajikistan to tackle with the COVID-19 and welcomed the agreement to provide the equipment to contribute to the improvement of health and medical care system in Tajikistan. In response, Minister Muhriddin expressed his gratitude for Japan’s assistance to Tajikistan. Both ministers concurred on further cooperation to prevent the spread of the infection.
In addition, Minister Motegi reportedly stated that Japan continues working with Tajikistan in spheres, such as developing human resources who will bear the future of Tajikistan and strengthening border control in order to prevent terrorism, extremism and drag trafficking inflowing through the border with Afghanistan. Minister Muhriddin expressed his gratitude and expectation for further assistance from Japan.
Both ministers reportedly shared the view to further deepen mutual exchanges between the two countries after the COVID-19 is resolved. Both ministers also agreed to encourage regional cooperation through the framework of the "Central Asia plus Japan" dialogue and continue close cooperation in the international arena.
