The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Tajikistan today expressed their mutual interest in developing bilateral relations and their keenness to drive their cooperation towards further growth and development, in a way that will realise the aspirations of their leadership and peoples and serve their common interests.

The two countries also expressed satisfaction over the level their diplomatic relations since inception where their bilateral and multilateral cooperation has witnessed an ongoing development under an atmosphere of mutual understanding and mutual benefit.

This came in a joint statement on the joint statement on the development of joint cooperation between the UAE and the republic of Tajikistan at the end of the visit made by the President of Tajikistan, Emomalii Rahmon.

At the end of his visit, President Emomali Rahmon expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the United Arab Emirates for the warm hospitality accorded to him and his accompanying delegation. President Emomali Rahmon extended the invitation to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to pay an official visit to Tajikistan.

The invitation was accepted. The date of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.

The following is the full text of the UAE-Tajikistan joint statement: :: BEGIN TEXT "A Joint Statement between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Tajikistan was issued today at the end of the visit made by the President of Tajikistan, Emomalii Rahmon.

Abu Dhabi on 17th March 2016.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, held talks with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, during his official visit to United Arab Emirates on 16-17 March 2016, which focused on the relations of friendship and cooperation between the UAE and Tajikistan and ways to enhance and develop them, as well regional and international issues of common interest.

1. The two sides expressed their mutual interest in developing bilateral relations and their keenness to drive their cooperation towards further growth and development, in a way that will realise the aspirations of their leadership and peoples and serve their common interests.

2. The two sides expressed their satisfaction over the level of diplomatic relations since inception between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Tajikistan, where the bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries has witnessed an ongoing development under an atmosphere of mutual understanding and mutual benefit.

3. In order to expand the scope of mutual cooperation between the two countries, the two sides decided to exploit the enormous potential in the fields of economy, trade, investment, finance and banking, water energy, and the infrastructure of transportation, agriculture, industry, sports, justice, education, science, culture, and tourism.

4. The two sides stressed the need for intensifying the joint government committee activities between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Tajikistan in the fields of trade, economic, technical, and scientific cooperation at the ministerial level. This is to enable both sides to promote the economic and trade cooperation between them.

5. The two sides have expressed their satisfaction with the opening of the representative office of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Dushanbe city, and on the need to organize forums for business and investment in the two countries, and the establishment of special exhibitions for industrial products. They also expressed their hope that the activities entrusted to this representative office and the meetings convened by businesspersons would lead to expand the trade scope between the two countries.

6. The Tajikistani side expressed sincere thanks and appreciation for the development assistance from the United Arab Emirates aimed at boosting economic and social development in the Republic of Tajikistan.

7. The two sides stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in order to face the threats posed by terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking, and transnational organized crimes and other security challenges in the region and the world.

8. Regarding the development of security cooperation between the two countries, both sides have welcomed and expressed satisfaction with the establishment of a joint work team between the concerned agencies involved in conducting effective activities between the two countries in dealing with regional and international security challenges.

9. The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the distinguished existing cooperation between the two countries under the framework of the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other multilateral regional and international fora.

10. The visit saw the following agreements/MOUs signed in the presence of the two sides: 1) Agreement on Security Cooperation and Combating Terrorism between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan; 2) Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons between the Ministry of Interior of United Arab Emirates and the Ministry of Justice of Republic of Tajikistan.

3) Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan; 4) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan for Cooperation in the Fields of Higher Education and Scientific Research 5) Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism between the National Council of Tourism and Antiquities and the Committee of Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan; 6) Memorandum of Understanding between the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare of the United Arab Emirates and the Committee of Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan for Cooperation in the Field of Sports; 7) Memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Committee for Religious Affairs, Regulation of Traditions and National Ceremonials under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments At the end of the visit, President Emomali Rahmon expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the United Arab Emirates for the warm hospitality accorded to him and his accompanying delegation. President Emomali Rahmon extended the invitation to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to pay an official visit to Tajikistan. The invitation was accepted. The date of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.

Issued in Abu Dhabi on 17th March 2016."

Source:WAM