On November 2, 2017, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov arrived with a two-day official visit to the Republic of Tajikistan. The Turkmen leader was greeted at the Dushanbe International Airport by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Kohir Rasulzoda and other officials.
From the International Airport of Dushanbe, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov went to the Governmental residence reserved for him during the visit. Then the motorcade of the Turkmen leader proceeded to the Kasri Millat Palace. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was warmly and fraternally welcomed by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.
Here, on the square, a ceremony of an official meeting of a high Turkmen guest was held. At the end of the official welcome ceremony, President Emomali Rahmon invited President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the Kasri Millat Palace, where the Turkmen-Tajik top-level talks took place in a one-to-one format.
During the talks held in a confidential, businesslike atmosphere, the heads of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, concretized its key vectors, taking into account the existing perspectives and modern realities. The sides also exchanged views on a number of topical issues on the regional and global agenda, which were of mutual interest.
After the meeting of the leaders of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan in a one-on-one format, the talks continued in an expanded format, with the participation of the members of the official delegations of the two countries.
During the talks, the sides agreed on approaches to cooperation in the international arena. The intention of both countries to expand cooperation and coordinate the steps within the framework of the largest international organizations, first of all, in the UN, OSCE, regional associations, of which Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are participants, was stressed. The importance of creating effective mechanisms for ensuring peace and stability in Central Asia, avoiding conflict situations, resolving all existing issues in the format of political and diplomatic measures, as well as strengthening good-neighborliness, accounting and respect for mutual interests was noted.
A separate topic of the Turkmen-Tajik talks was the situation in Afghanistan. In this context, it was noted that, as time showed, the settlement of the situation in a neighboring country is possible only by peaceful, political means, on the basis of a broad national dialogue involving all responsible and constructive Afghan forces. We are in favor of providing active international support to the Afghan government, facilitating the country's effective integration into regional and global economic processes, in particular in vital areas such as energy and transport, the Turkmen leader said.
At the end of the Turkmen-Tajik talks in the enlarged format, the signing ceremony of bilateral documents took place. To the applause of the present, Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Emomali Rahmon signed the Joint Statement and the Treaty on Strategic Partnership between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Tajikistan.
Also signed at the intergovernmental level were agreements on cooperation in the field of civil defense, prevention and liquidation of emergencies, on the principles of indirect taxation in the export and import of goods, on long-term trade and economic cooperation, on mutual recognition of documents on education, on cooperation in the field of agriculture, on mutual recognition of construction licenses. The parties also signed the Program of Cooperation in the Field of Culture and Art between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2018-2020, the Protocol on Amendments to the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on the construction of the building of the secondary school named after Makhtumkuli.
At the interdepartmental level, documents on cooperation between the Lebap province (Turkmenistan) and the executive authority of the Khatlon region (the Republic of Tajikistan), the agreement on the establishment of twinning relations between the cities of Ashgabat and Dushanbe, a memorandum of understanding between the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan and the State Unitary Enterprise "Tajikinvest".
After the ceremony of signing the documents, the heads of the two states addressed the representatives of the mass media.
Speaking to media representatives, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted with satisfaction the effectiveness of the talks, during which the state of bilateral relations was discussed, an exchange of views on a number of international issues of mutual interest was held. A significant package of documents defining Turkmen-Tajik cooperation in important areas was signed.
In the afternoon, Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Emomali Rahmon got acquainted with an exhibition of agricultural products and dishes of national Tajik cuisine organized on the territory of the Governmental residence. In its exposition various kinds and sorts of fruits, vegetables, melons, as well as dried fruits and fruits of other crops were presented.
On the same day, the Turkmen leader laid flowers at the monument to the national hero of the Tajik people Ismail Samani, paying tribute to the memory of the outstanding statesman and ruler of the Samanid State.
Then President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited the National Museum of Tajikistan.
In the evening, in honor of the high Turkmen guest, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan gave an official dinner.
The official visit of the President of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Tajikistan continues.
