NEW DELHI, Mar 31: The external affairs S Jaishankar had a meeting with his Tajikistan counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin and thanked him for the invitation to visit the country.
Stating that this was his first visit, he congratulated him and Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar for the fruitful conclusion of the 9th Heart of Asia – Istanbul – Process on Afghanistan Ministerial Conference.
According to a press statement issued by Jaishankar, both Sirojiddin and he were of the opinion that while bilateral strategic relations have developed and evolved over the years, there was still room for further enhancing economic cooperation. This will be possible by encouraging the business community, Chambers of Commerce, and trade bodies on both sides to engage more intensively with each other, while governments would continue to cooperate.
The statement went on to add Dr Jaishankar met Tajik President Emamoli Rahmon on Tuesday during which the President expressed satisfaction with the current state of bilateral relations and stressed the importance of increased economic cooperation between the two countries. Dr Jaishankar also met the Lower House Chairman Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda and Defence Minister Colonel General Sherali Mirzo.
Emphasising that development cooperation has become an essential pillar of bilateral relationship, he stressed that training and capacity building will continue to be one of the priority areas of cooperation. Under the grant assistance, India has successfully commissioned a host of projects in Tajikistan over the years, including IT equipment in schools, a food processing plant, an engineering workshop, a pharmaceutical plant, IT centres, the reconstruction and modernization of the Varzob-1 hydroelectric power plant. India is pleased to be involved in the 8-laning of the Dushanbe-Chortut highway, which, when completed next year, will greatly aid in the decongestion of Dushanbe, and is considering additional community development grant projects, as well as projects in the energy and transportation sectors, under India’s Line of Credit in Tajikistan, he said.
Congratulating Tajikistan’s government and citizens on the country’s 30th anniversary of independence, he expressed delight that in these extraordinary times, India was able to supply ‘Made in India’ vaccines as well as COVID-19 medicines to Tajikistan.
(Venkatesh Iyer)