Vision Central Asia: Pakistan, Tajikistan to Hold Regional Connectivity Summit in 2023

• Tajik President Invites Pakistan for Joint ventures in Tajikistan
• #CPEC Boosts Connectivity through #GwadarPort, #ML, Highways

Islamabad: #Pakistan and #Tajikistan have agreed to hold “Regional Connectivity Summit” in 2023, under the “Vision Central Asia” policy which is aimed to enhance bilateral strategic cooperation for mutual benefit of the two countries and their peoples.

NSN.ASIA Research Desk found it in the Joint Communiqué released after the official visit of President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to Pakistan who held delegation level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here on Wednesday.

During the meeting both leaders exchanged views on a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his talks underlined the importance of engagement with Tajikistan under Pakistan’s “Vision Central Asia” policy which is based on the five pillars of bilateral cooperation i.e. political, trade & investment, energy and connectivity, security and defence and people-to-people contacts.

Both the leadership of Tajikistan welcomed Pakistan’s initiative to hold Regional Connectivity Summit in 2023.

Also, both the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepen the existing fraternal ties between the two countries which are based on a shared history, culture, geographical contiguity and common faith.

The leadership of the two countries expressed satisfaction on the steady growth and momentum of the bilateral relations and agreed to enhance these relations towards a strategic cooperation for mutual benefit of the two countries and their peoples.

Strategic Partnership Agreement

The two leaders agreed that the Strategic Partnership Agreement, which will further enhance bilateral cooperation, should be finalized at the earliest and be signed during the visit of Prime Minister of Pakistan to Dushanbe next year.

The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highly appreciated efforts of the President of Tajikistan as one of the founders of the SCO and expressed support for his initiative to establish the SCO Anti-Drug Center in Dushanbe.

Promotion Of Good-Neighbourliness in Region

The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s support to Tajikistan for its membership in Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement. Noting efforts of the Central Asian states aimed at establishing on atmosphere of good-neighbourliness, trust and friendship in the region, Shehbaz Sharif welcomed holding of the fifth anniversary of the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia in Tajikistan on September 14-15, next year.

Joint Working Groups Meetings for trade and Investment

The two sides agreed to enhance bilateral economic ties by exploring new avenues, opportunities and ventures. In this regard, both sides held discussions on early establishment of road, rail and air connectivity between the two countries through active consultations at expert level in relevant fields. The two leaders also noted with satisfaction the progress made through the Joint Working Groups, which were constituted earlier to boost bilateral cooperation in multifaceted fields particularly trade, investment, transport, energy, culture and tourism. The two sides agreed to convene meetings of these JWGs regularly to follow up on the exchanges.

The two sides expressed readiness to hold the 7thSession of Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific Technical Cooperation in Islamabad, at an early date.

Energy Connectivity under CASA-1000

The two leaders reaffirmed early finalization of the flagship power project CASA-1000. They agreed that completion of the project would open new avenues for future energy corridors, leading to prosperity for the whole region. They emphasized the need to fully tap the vast potential in the fields of energy, connectivity, agriculture and industry.

CPEC Connectivity through Gwadar Port

The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif informed the Tajik President about the operationalization of Gwadar seaport and offered Tajikistan the opportunity to avail themselves of the facility of Pakistani seaports and CPEC. He highlighted that the Pakistani seaports offer the most efficient, shortest and economic route for the Central Asian countries including Tajikistan to the markets in Middle East and beyond.

Tajik President Invites Pakistan for Joint ventures in Tajikistan

The Tajik President, noting potential and experience of Pakistan in the field of investment and new technologies, invited the Pakistani side to actively participate in the creation of joint ventures in Tajikistan, on the basis of existing industrial enterprises and free economic zones.

The two leaders noted the gradual development of bilateral cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism and security.

Dushanbe Peace Process

The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the Republic of Tajikistan to promote multilateral cooperation in countering terrorism and it’s financing in the Central Asian region and holding together with UN high-level international conferences in the framework of Dushanbe Process.

Cooperation for Climate Change, Protection of Glaciers

Shehbaz Sharif, taking into account the negative impact of global climate change on the glaciers, supported the proposal of the President to declare 2025 the International Year of Glacier Conservation and the creation of the International Foundation for The Protection of Glaciers.

Cooperation to Combat Islamophobia

The two leaders exchanged views on the rise of Islamophobia world-wide and expressed support for the joint initiatives and collective efforts of the OIC to combat this scourge.

Cooperation for Connectivity, Prosperity in Afghanistan

On Afghanistan, the two sides agreed that a peaceful, prosperous, interconnected and stable Afghanistan is fundamental to regional prosperity and progress. They considered it important for Afghanistan to have an inclusive government.

Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Tajikistan established diplomatic relations in 1992. During the three decades long relations, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan paid 7 official and state visits to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (March 1994, 1996, 1997, May 12-14, 2004, March 7-10, 2011, November 12-13, 2015 and 2 -3 June 2021).

Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch

Pakistani Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during a weekly media briefing on Thursday said

During Rahmon’s two-day visit to Pakistan from Dec. 15 to 16, a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed in the areas of industry and new technologies, transit trade, combating trafficking in narcotics, cooperation among customs authorities on the establishment of electronic data interchange, research in the field of water resources, and cooperation in education, Baloch stated.

“It was agreed in his delegation-level meeting with Sharif that a “bilateral strategic partnership agreement will be finalized at the earliest”, she added.

Experts believe the visit of Tajikistan’s President, Emomali Rahmon, will bolster growth and add momentum to the bilateral relations strengthened by mutual trust and win-win cooperation. Lean more

#CentralAsia

By: Dr.Muhammad Arif