(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani commenced on a state visit to the Republic of Tajikistan during which His Highness will hold official talks with President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon at the Presidential Palace“Palace of the Nation” in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe and will tackle the existing friendship and cooperation ties between the two countries, ways to enhance and develop them in various fields, in addition to discussing latest developments of shared interest at the regional and international arenas.
The visit of H H the Amir will to contribute to developing relations between the two countries, supporting and promoting them and moving them to advanced phases of strategic partnerships, especially in economic, trade and investment fields for the benefit of the two countries and their friendly people.
Inception of the relationship between Qatar and Tajikistan dates to 1994, where the two countries agreed -at the margins of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit that was held in Morocco- to establish diplomatic relations between them on Dec. 13, 1994. The Qatari Embassy was inaugurated in Dushanbe on Nov. 2, 2012, while the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan was inaugurated in Doha on Oct. 5, 2011, implying that relations between the two countries this year mark the 29th anniversary of their founding and comes in a time their bilateral relations have been promoted to the high level of durability and excellence, and steadfast development at various levels and areas of mutual interest.
The existing good and solid relations between the two countries derive their activity and strength from spiritual and historic ties and commonalities between the Tajik and Qatari peoples from one side,and the existing fraternal ties between the leaders of the two countries the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and his brother President of the Republic of Tajikistan H E Emomali Rahmon. The relations are based on joint historic and civilized values, principle of fraternity and understanding, and consideration for interests and shared respect which have been promoted through persistent political consultation and trade and the great trade and economic exchange between the two countries.
The historic relations that brought the two countries together since the 1990s have succeeded whose impact is demonstrated in exchanging state visits between senior leaders in reflecting their shared keenness to consolidate cooperation ties in all fields and promoting them to wider prospects for the service of the joint interests of the two countries and moving forward to fostering partnership at trade and investment levels based on clear frameworks in consistent with economic orientations of the two countries.
The shared official visits at the highest levels have contributed to strengthening these relations through a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding have been signed between Qatar and Tajikistan, in addition to sharing visits of several delegations between the two countries at the ministerial, trade and investment levels.
One of the most prominent shared state visits at the summit level between the two countries was the visit of H H the Amir to Tajikistan to participate in the 5th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held in June 2019, where His Highness held official session of talks with H E Emomali Rahmon, and the official visit of Father H H Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to Tajikistan in the summer of 2007. On the other side, there was the first official visit of HE President Emomali Rahmon to the State of Qatar in May 2007, and his second official visit during Feb. 5-7, 2017. Moreover, in 2015 Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan H E Kokhir Rasulzoda visited the State of Qatar.
In addition, a series of agreements and memorandums of understanding that were been signed between the two countries have contributed to supporting and developing bilateral relations in various fields, as the two countries have similar and close positions pertaining to numerous pivotal international and regional issues and files as the two countries are keen to cooperate in pursuit of safeguarding international security and peace, and there is a close cooperation between the two countries within the framework of international and regional organizations with the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) coming at the forefront, as well as CICA.
Within the framework of the continued political consultations between the two countries, political consultations round was held in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe last May between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries through which bilateral cooperation ties were discussed, in addition to a broad range of topics of mutual interest.
In February 2023, the Qatari-Tajik joint labor committee held a meeting in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe and discussed aspects of joint cooperation and exchange of expertise in the labor field, facilitation of the recruitment of professional laborers from Tajikistan, mechanisms of implementing the signed agreement between the two countries on regulating manpower and other topics incorporated into the agenda. The joint intergovernmental trade-economic and technical committee is a pivotal mechanism and vital element to activate and follow up on economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
Out of the conviction that parliamentary diplomacy is extremely important and an effective mechanism to develop and consolidate bilateral relations, there is an existing cooperation between the Shura Council in Qatar and Majlisi Namoyandagon (the House of Representatives) of the Majlisi Oli (the Supreme Assembly) of Tajikistan. The State of Qatar was the first Arab country that embarked on implementing investment projects in Tajikistan which amounted to USD 300 million earmarked for the development of Diyar-Dushanbe project. Moreover, Qatar funded the construction of one of the largest mosques at the level of Central Asia in Dushanbe.
Within the framework of its humanitarian role, Embassy of the State of Qatar in Dushanbe delivered medical aid from Qatar Charity to Tajikistan to counter the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
Operationalizing direct flights between Doha and Dushanbe is a critical factor to boost trade, tourism, and cultural cooperation, in addition to further communication between the two countries and their two brotherly peoples. In November 2018, Qatar hosted Qatar Cultural Days of the Republic of Tajikistan within the framework of joint cultural cooperation between the two countries.
During his visit to Doha in February 2017, President of the Republic of Tajikistan H E Emomali Rahmon affirmed that his country is committed to consolidating relations with the State of Qatar considering it a key partner for his country at the international level. During a meeting held with local business community represented by Qatari Businessmen Association and Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President of the Republic of Tajikistan called on Qatari businessmen to invest in several sectors in his country, including hydropower, banking, financial services, minerals, tourism, and agriculture.
He called on businessmen to effectively cooperate to better activate these four economic areas, pointing out that his country provides a competitive environment to investments and offers assurances for foreign investment that include about 240 privileges and facilities ranging from tax law to customs.