Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 8 September (BelTA) - Tajikistan cooperates with Belarus in a wide range of areas and would like to bolster the ties, especially in trade and economic areas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Belarus Kozidavlat Koimdodov said at an event on the occasion of the country's Independence Day, BelTA has learned.

According to the diplomat, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Belarus interact in political, trade and economic, scientific and technological, cultural and educational areas. The bilateral cooperation is based on the principles of friendship and mutual benefits. In general, it is characterized by a positive development on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis.

The Ambassador recalled that this year was particularly rich in events for the Tajik-Belarus relations. In May Minsk hosted a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade cooperation. The same month Belarus presented its industrial novelties at an exhibition in Dushanbe. Then in May the dialogue continued between the Presidents of the two countries, and the Prime Ministers of Tajikistan and Belarus met within the framework of the CIS.

The diplomat said that during the official visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to Belarus on 23-25 May the parties had a constructive dialogue on political, trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian interaction and cooperation in the field of security. The two sides exchanged views on current international and regional issues of mutual interest. During the negotiations, Emomali Rahmon noted that "the relations with Belarus occupy a special place in the foreign policy of Tajikistan. The further strengthening of the ties with Belarus, ensuring their long-term and stable nature is a priority.” To date, taking into account the agreements signed during the official visit the Tajik-Belarus legal framework consists of over 60 agreements.

Kozidavlat Koimdodov noted that the inter-parliamentary cooperation has intensified in recent years. The two countries created inter-parliamentary friendship groups, MPs exchanged a number of working visits.

Tajikistan and Belarus are the international partners within the framework of the United Nations and other international and regional organizations. They support each other's initiatives on issues of common interest.

According to the Ambassador, trade and economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Belarus has been growing. The Tajik-Belarus intergovernmental commission on trade-economic cooperation, the relevant ministries and departments, enterprises and business contribute to the growth of bilateral trade.

The diplomat said that the work is in progress to create the facility to assemble the tractors produced by Minsk Tractor Works in the territory of the Dangara Free Economic Zone and trailed equipment in Hisor District.

Inter-regional cooperation has been rapidly developing. The cooperation in the fields of culture, science, education, and healthcare is in the focus. In 2015 Belarus and Tajikistan will resume the practice of exchanging days of culture.

More students from Tajikistan attend Belarusian universities. The parties intend to increase the number of students and to expand the list of majors, and also to resume the programs on post-graduate student exchange and enhancement of qualifications.

The Belarusian-Tajik friendship society also contributes to the development of the bilateral relationship. At the beginning of the year, it arranged the presentations of the books "Tajikistan-Belarus: Shining Distance" and "Life Goes On" by Tajik author Ato Hamdam.

The Embassy together with the CIS Executive Committee and the Academy of Public Administration under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Belarus held a conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan. By the will of the people of the country, the basic law established a new state, presented Tajikistan to the international community as an independent state with the perfect political and legal system, in which a man, his rights and freedoms are declared the supreme value.

The Ambassador stressed that Tajikistan and Belarus cooperate in a wide range of areas. "The positive vector of the bilateral relations create favorable conditions for closer interaction, taking into account each other's interests and mutual benefits," he said.