BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Our interaction rests on the determination of our peoples, who have been cooperating for centuries, been friends, and created together, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Trend reports.
Statement by President Ilham Aliyev
- Dear Emomali Sharipovich.
Dear guests.
Dear friends.
It is a great honor for us to welcome our dear guest, a great friend of Azerbaijan, President of brotherly Tajikistan Emomali Sharipovich Rahmon on a state visit.
We have discussed a broad range of issues regarding our interaction in an expanded format with the participation of members of our delegations and in our one-on-one meeting today. We have given specific instructions to members of the governments of our countries regarding the implementation of many projects of economic nature, projects related to industrial cooperation, as well as cooperation in the humanitarian sphere.
By the end of the year, when Emomali Sharipovich visits us again, we will go over all the issues again and exercise control over the implementation of these instructions. I have invited the President of Tajikistan to participate in the climate conference in November. This invitation has been accepted. We are extensively preparing for this international event and counting on the active participation of Tajikistan. I am confident that our Tajik friends will make a great contribution to the success of this conference and the achievement of good results.
Our interaction rests on the determination of our peoples, who have been cooperating for centuries, have been friends, and have created together. Today, our interstate relations have reached the highest level.
We have just signed the Declaration on Strategic Partnership, which reflects the nature and spirit of our relations, as well as the determination of our peoples. The Declaration covers almost all spheres of interaction. It expresses mutual support and a focus on concrete results.
Today, we also discussed in detail the issues of economic interaction. Along with the Declaration on Strategic Partnership, we have signed 13 other documents, totaling 14 documents, some of which were signed here and others earlier. This significantly strengthens the legal framework of our relations. On the eve of the visit of the President of Tajikistan, a business forum was held, and documents and memorandums of understanding were also signed within the framework of that forum, and this was reported to us today. I think this will allow us the opportunity to significantly increase the volume of mutual trade.
The Days of Culture of Tajikistan in Azerbaijan, which are currently underway here and will last several days, almost one week, are also an important event in bilateral relations. I think and I am confident that this brings joy to Azerbaijani spectators, who have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the rich culture of the Tajik people.
We also discussed in detail issues related to industrial cooperation, and I am sure that what we talked about and the instructions we have given to members of the government will be realized in the shortest possible time.
The transport sector was also in the spotlight of our discussions. We carefully went over the issues related to logistical links in order to make the Middle Corridor and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, which is a part of it, more appealing for shippers from Tajikistan. I informed my colleague that Azerbaijan has practically completed all major transport and logistical projects on its territory and is now ready to receive large volumes of cargo from different directions: from East to West and vice versa, and also from North to South and vice versa.
We also discussed issues related to geopolitical changes, the global situation, and the situation in our regions. We discussed in detail the strengthening of security measures and increasing cooperation in this sphere, as well as issues related to education, culture and agriculture. In other words, even the composition of the delegations of our countries speaks volumes of the broad agenda between us. But most important, of course, is the sincerity in our relations, the friendly and brotherly nature of relations between Tajikistan and Azerbaijan. Of course, one of the most important roles is the personal contacts between the heads of state. I visited Tajikistan twice last year – with a state visit, and Emomali Sharipovich also invited me as a guest of honor to the Summit of Heads of State of Central Asia. Also last year, we held the Summit of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia, SPECA, and Emomali Sharipovich visited us. In other words, our regular contacts in Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, not to mention our meetings on the sidelines of international events, of course, are the most important factors of our interaction. This gives a powerful impetus to all directions in order to fill relations with specific content.
Once again, dear Emomali Sharipovich, I warmly welcome you. I would like to thank you for accepting the invitation and making a state visit. I wish the brotherly people of Tajikistan new victories under your leadership. As a person who has been visiting Tajikistan for almost 20 years, I have witnessed the large-scale transformations, economic and social development, as well as successes in urban development. And every time I visit Dushanbe, I see how much more beautiful and comfortable the city is becoming for its residents and visitors. Therefore, I once again congratulate you on all these achievements. I wish you and the brotherly Tajik people continued success.