(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 6. Within the framework
of the visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Tajikistan
on April 5, the two countries have taken their already successful
relations to a new level. Multiple agreements that have been signed
during the visit, cover broad spectrum of bilateral cooperation –
from increasing mutual investments and strengthening financial
relations to the development of cultural and tourism ties.
As President Ilham Aliyev said during the press conference with
President Emomali Rahmon, Azerbaijan is ready to seriously consider
investment projects in Tajikistan, noting that this country is not
only close for Azerbaijan, but is also stable.
Moreover, President Ilham Aliyev said that it has been decided
to hold the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission in
Tajikistan in 2023. This event is very promising in many
aspects.
“Investments go only to countries where there is stability and a
good investment environment. The fact that many foreign companies
are actively investing in Tajikistan means that investments,
including foreign, are protected by the state. I have no doubt that
tangible steps will be taken in the near future based on the
results of the visit. We have agreed to hold the next meeting of
the intergovernmental commission in Tajikistan this year, and by
the time of the meeting of the intergovernmental commission, I am
sure that all the instructions that we have given to the members of
the delegations on the issues of transport and logistical
interaction, investment policy, industrial cooperation will be
fulfilled. I am sure that the results will please us all,”
President Ilham Aliyev said.
President Emomali Rahmon, in turn, expressed strong will of
Tajikistan to continue to use convenient transport links that
Azerbaijan offers, promote cooperation in oil and gas sector with
Azerbaijani companies, and support joint implementation of projects
in the light, chemical and mining industries, in the production of
building materials, processing of aluminum, cotton fiber, precious
and semi-precious stones and metals.
Until yesterday, the legal basis for bilateral cooperation
between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan consisted of about 62 agreements
regulating various spheres of cooperation. And now, 14 more
agreements in various spheres have been added. One of the most
important - an action plan for economic cooperation between the two
governments until 2025, which should become a basis for the
creation of effective mechanisms for deepening the bilateral
relations.
Another agreement incorporates partnership in the field of
transport. The Protocol on arranging exchange of preliminary
information on goods and vehicles transported between Azerbaijan
and Tajikistan will contribute to the rapid growth of trade
relations and facilitate the overall logistics. Having developed
great transportation links with all countries of Central Asia,
Azerbaijan always works on their improvement, and this helped the
country evolve into a regional transportation hub. This is where
Tajikistan can benefit enormously.
Furthermore, a Draft Agreement in the field of investments,
start-up promotion and entrepreneurship has been signed. The stable
investment climate that had been created in Azerbaijan has
attracted numerous foreign companies engaged in diverse spheres.
Azerbaijan is always open to invest and to attract investments,
thus, the country's successful experience will be applied in
Tajikistan as well.
The cooperation in humanitarian and culture fields is also one
of the main areas in Azerbaijani-Tajik relations. An agreement on
boosting tourism cooperation was also followed by Azerbaijani Buta
Airways' announcement of launching Baku – Dushanbe flights. This
should contribute to increase of mutual visits.
In his speech during the joint press conference, President Ilham
Aliyev paid particular attention to the cultural relations between
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan:“Our peoples have lived for centuries in
an atmosphere of friendship, accord. We have always been friends,
and it is no coincidence that Tajik culture is highly valued in
Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani culture is appreciated in
Tajikistan”.
Establishing strong ties with Central Asian countries has been
one of the main pillars of President Ilham Aliyev's farsighted
foreign policy. At the same time, having developed fruitful
partnership with the European countries, Azerbaijan, basically
becomes a gateway for Central Asia's integration in the West. And
now, those new opportunities in cooperation between Azerbaijan and
Tajikistan that have emerged will contribute to the development of
the whole region.