Tajikistan and Turkmenistan yesterday signed 19 cooperation documents, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
The countries, in particular, signed government-to-government cooperation agreements on transportation, transit of goods and passengers, transportation of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas (LNG), tourism, railway transport, production, culture and art.
The heads of the countries noted that the use of broad spectrum of opportunities in industry, transportation, organization of rail and air traffic, increase in international freight traffic by road and rail through Turkmen territory, use of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport as logistics center for transit of Tajik freight in interest of both sides.
The parties found it necessary to take measures to implement the intergovernmental program for trade and economic cooperation for the period up to 2023 and organize a roadmap for development of trade within the next two years.
The parties also exchanged views on expansion of bilateral cooperation in the agrarian sector.
Expansion cultural, humanitarian, educational and health cooperation was another topic of the talks.
The parties also discussed issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan’s Sughd province and Turkmenistan’s Ahal region.
While discussing the problems of regional security, the parties reportedly paid a special attention to the main threats such as international terrorism, extremism, religious radicalism, transnational organized crime, drug trafficking and the situation in Afghanistan.
The heads of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan signed a Joint Statement and expressed their conviction that the stable and trusting nature of the relationship between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan meets the vital and long-term interests of the peoples of the two countries and is a key factor in ensuring peace, stability and security in the region.
Upon completion of negotiations, Emomali Rahmon invited Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to pay a return visit to Tajikistan at any time convenient for him.
According to the Tajik MFA, the diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan were officially established on January 27, 1993 by signing of the Protocol "On the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan."
The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan has functioned in Ashgabat since February 1993. The Embassy of Turkmenistan operates in Dushanbe as well.
In general, the current state of the Tajik-Turkmen relations has a tendency of phased expansion. The process of practical implementation of the mutual desire of the two countries to work more closely in multi-dimensional cooperation in accordance with the potential and needs of the people reportedly can be seen in bilateral relations.
