ISLAMABAD:
President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon will be visiting Pakistan on a two-day visit, beginning tomorrow, the Foreign Office announced on Tuesday.
"At the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, President of Tajikistan, H.E. Emomali Rahmon, will pay a two-day visit to Pakistan on 2-3 June 2021," the FO said.
"He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation," the communique added.
During the visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Rahmon are to lead their respective sides in delegation-level talks.
"The two sides will exchange views on deepening bilateral cooperation in diverse areas -- including political, economic, trade, investment, energy, security and defence, culture, education and regional connectivity," the FO added.
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"A number of agreements/MoUs are expected to be signed during the visit. The visiting dignitary will separately meet President Dr Arif Alvi," as per the FO.
The Tajik president's last bilateral visit was in November 2015. In the multilateral context, President Rahmon visited Pakistan for the 13th ECO Summit held in Islamabad in March 2017.
His forthcoming visit will reinforce the efforts of both sides to forge a long-term, multi-dimensional relationship.
"Pakistan and Tajikistan enjoy close brotherly relations underpinned by commonalty of faith, shared history and cultural affinities," the foreign office's statement maintained.
It added that the ties were "characterised by mutual respect, shared perceptions and a common desire to promote peace, stability and development in the region."
The communique further stated that Tajikistan is important within the context of Pakistan’s vision for closer ties and enhanced cooperation with Central Asia.
"The vision emphasises forging deeper trade, investment, energy, security and people-to-people links. The two countries share common views on major regional and international issues and cooperate closely at various multilateral fora," the statement added.
Read more Govt urged to fast-track work on CASA-1000
"Tajikistan is the current chair of SCO. Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Dushanbe in March 2021 to attend the Ministerial Meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP), followed by his bilateral visit to Tajikistan."
The FO further said that on May 25, 2021, the two sides held the 5th round of Pakistan-Tajikistan Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) at the level of Foreign Secretary/First Deputy Foreign Minister and reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral relations.
"Both Pakistan and Tajikistan are part of the CASA-1000 Transmission line Project along with Kyrgyz Republic and Afghanistan," it maintained.
The power project envisages the transportation of surplus electric power from Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to Pakistan (1000 MW) and Afghanistan (300 MW).
President Rahmon has visited Pakistan seven times since 1994.
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