- Pakistan’s envoy says Mamnoon, Tajik president will discuss ways to boost bilateral trade level up to US $500mn
DUSHANBE: President Mamnoon Hussain arrived in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, on Monday on a four-day official visit to participate in the high-level international conference on International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018-2028 being held in Tajikistan’s capital from June 20 to 21.
Tajikistan Deputy Prime Minister Zokor Zoda Mahmad Toir warmly received the president upon arrival at Dushanbe airport. Pakistan’s ambassador to Tajikistan, Tajikistan’s ambassador to Pakistan and senior embassy officials were also present on the occasion.
The deputy prime minister of Tajikistan also made a brief call on the president at the airport during which the two sides exchanged views on the matters of bilateral interest.
Besides holding bilateral talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, the president during his four-day official visit will also participate in the international conference on water.
The conference being hosted by Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and other partners will focus on sustainable development and integrated management of water resources for the achievement of social, economic and environmental objectives; implementation and promotion of related programmes and projects; and the furtherance of cooperation and partnerships at all levels in order to help achieve internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
It will also highlight the importance of promoting the efficiency of water usage at all levels, taking into account the water, food, energy, environment nexus, including the implementation of national development programmes.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Tariq Iqbal Soomro told APP that President Mamoon Hussain and President Emomali Rahmon during their talks will discuss the whole range of bilateral ties with a view to further strengthen and diversify these relations in different fields for mutual benefit.
He said that as the current volume of annual bilateral trade between the two countries stood at around US $42 million (FY 2016-17) and did not commensurate with the strong political ties, the two leaders will discuss ways and means to boost bilateral trade level up to US $500 million.
President Mamnoon during his first visit to Tajikistan will also hold meetings with the prime minister of Tajikistan as well as the speaker of the lower house of Tajik parliament.
Ambassador Soomro hoped that the visit of President Mamnoon will further strengthen the already existing close and friendly relations between the two brotherly nations.
To a question, he said that the water conference was the first of the series that Tajikistan planned to hold on a bi-annual basis to facilitate implementation of the new decade for water for sustainable development.
The ambassador further said that the official visits of the president, as well as recent visits of Pakistan’s prime minister, were reflective of Pakistan’s vision to strengthen relations with neighbouring and regional countries.