The third quadrilateral summit of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Russian Federation that took place in Dushanbe on Friday resulted in the signing of a joint statement.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, President Emomali Rahmon noted that the meeting could be called “fruitful and efficient.”
“Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Russia have good economic and energy potentials and we must use them efficiently,” Tajik leader noted.
President Asif Ali Zardari represented Pakistan and was accompanied by Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain.
During the meeting, the sides agreed to set up the coordination council of foreign and commerce ministers of the countries and a working group for trade and economic cooperation.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev noted that his country was ready to participate in the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Trade and Transmission Project (CASA 1000). “Russia is ready to finance this project,” Medvedev said.
Tajik leader has offered his Russian, Afghan and Pakistani counterparts to consider the issue of construction of the Russia-Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Pakistan railway. Russian president noted that the proposal was very interesting and suggested that China should also be involved in implementation of that project.