Pakistan, Tajikistan underscore need to strengthen bilateral cooperation
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with Tajik leadership in Dushanbe.
DUSHANBE (Web Desk) - Pakistan and Tajikistan have underscored the need to enhance connectivity by air, road and rail for promoting economic relations, people to people contacts and tourism.
This has been stated in a joint communiqué issued after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif s talks with Tajik leadership in Dushanbe.
The two sides mandated the Joint Ministerial Commission to make concrete recommendations for enhancing cooperation in different fields. Pakistan side has proposed holding of the Fifth Session of the joint ministerial commission meeting in October in Islamabad.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the development of bilateral relations and noted that a vast potential existed for expansion of cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, education, science, culture, energy, transport, defense and security.
The two sides expressed satisfaction regarding the status of implementation of the Joint Statement of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the development of partnerships and the implementation of the provisions and documents signed in Dushanbe on 17 June 2014 during the visit of the Prime Minister to Tajikistan.
During talks with the Tajik leadership, the Prime Minister praised Tajikistan for holding of the High Level International Conference on the Implementation of the International Decade for Action "Water for life".
The two sides also took note of the exhibition to be held in Dushanbe in October this year, which will facilitate introduction of Pakistani products in Tajikistan and the region.
They also emphasised the importance of the Joint Commission on Energy and Infrastructure, which was established on the instructions of the leadership of two countries. The two sides emphasised that the Commission shall hold meetings twice a year to explore possibilities of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of energy and infrastructure.
The two sides stressed the need to strengthen the capacity of transit and transportation, including through enhanced cooperation at the regional level. In this context, the two sides noted that early finalisation of the trilateral agreement on transit trade among Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan will contribute to economic and trade relations and will give greater impetus to regional cooperation.
They reiterated the need to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan in the fight against international terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking and other threats to regional and global security.
The two sides agreed to work closely on the important issue of reform of the UN Security Council.
The Prime Minister stated that he was looking forward to the state visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to Pakistan that will further strengthen and broaden the traditionally close and cooperative relations between the peoples of the two countries.
