Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu arrived in Tajikistan on March 28 for a three-day official visit to participate in the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, Daily Sabah says.
“In friendly and brotherly #Tajikistan to discuss bilateral relations and attend 9th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process,” Çavuşoğlu said on Twitter.
“All aspects of bilateral relations will be discussed and views will be exchanged on regional and international developments during the meetings,” a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry previously said.
“Çavuşoğlu will also attend the 9th Ministerial Meeting of Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, which is co-hosted by Tajikistan and Afghanistan, on March 30, 2021,” the statement added.
The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, a regional initiative of Afghanistan and Turkey launched in 2011, has two chairs with Afghanistan as the permanent chair and a co-chair from among the member states that shifts each year.
"The process aims to promote regional security, economic and political cooperation centered on Afghanistan through dialogue and confidence-building measures," according to the organization's website.
Citing the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Daily Sabah says Turkey ranked third among the countries which assisted Tajikistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The total value of Turkish investments in the country between 2009 and 2019 reportedly was US$200 million.
Last year, the bilateral trade between Turkey and Tajikistan reportedly valued at US$322 million. The total value of 52 projects undertaken by Turkish contractors in Tajikistan is US$660 million, according to Daily Sabah.
