Tajik President Emomali Rahmon will pay a three-day visit to Berlin, Germany from September 28 through September 30, according to the Tajik president’s press service.
An official source within the Tajik president’s press service says Rahmon will participate in a meeting of presidents of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with Germany’s Federal President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier.
The meeting agenda reportedly includes issues related to expansion of regional economic cooperation and collaboration being of significant importance for the region and Germany, the source said.
“Besides, Central Asia’s leaders are also planned to hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz,” the source noted.
According to him, the parties will discuss a range of topics, including bilateral cooperation between the countries as well as economic and trade cooperation between Germany and Central Asia.
While in Berlin, Tajik leader is reportedly also scheduled to hold bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
During the visit, Emomali Rahmon will also participate in an economic conference of the Central Asian countries and Germany, the source added.
Meanwhile, citing the official website of the President of Germany President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Turkmenistan’s Orient news agency says Germany’s Federal President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier announced Germany's readiness to strengthen cooperation with Central Asian countries.
EURAKTIV reported on September 22 that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will host the leaders of five Central Asian nations in a bid to boost ties as Russia’s influence in the region wanes.
The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan will hold talks with Scholz in Berlin on September 29, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said.
According to him, the talks are likely to cover a whole range of topics, such as bilateral relations, economic issues and energy policy cooperation,” he said.
It will be the first joint meeting of its kind with the European Union (EU) country.
Some experts consider that Moscow’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine has prompted global powers like China and the European Union to seek a greater role in Central Asia at a time when many in the region are questioning their long-standing ties with Russia.
Recall, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted the five leaders for a key summit in May, while US President Joe Biden had his first meeting with the Central Asian presidents on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last week.
European Council President Charles Michel has twice visited the Central Asian region since the start of the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine last year.
Germany also has an interest in the energy-rich region as Berlin has also been seeking alternative sources of power after its supplies from Russia dried up.
Russia remains the main power in the Central Asia region.
