Your Excellency, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Mr. Shehbaz Sharif,
Distinguished members of mass media,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank my friend and brother, His Excellency Shehbaz Sharif, the Government and the people of Pakistan for the generous hospitality and for the warm welcome.

Development and strengthening of traditional friendly and fraternal relations and fruitful cooperation with Pakistan occupies a major direction of Tajikistan’s foreign policy.

We always attach a particular importance to continued and progressive promotion of these relationships.

We praise the outcomes of today's high-level meeting and a continuation of the joint efforts of the parties.

We believe that the agreements we reached, along with the MOUs we have signed earlier, will give a new and powerful impetus to the interstate relations of the two countries.

In the course of the restricted meeting and delegation level talks we have meticulously discussed a wide range of our government – to – government relations in the political, commercial, economic, cultural, humanitarian and security sectors.

Meanwhile, we have emphasized the importance of continued reliable political dialogue at all levels.

Concentrating on the current hardships of the world economy and global economic decay, we have paid primary attention to ensuring the further development of trade and economic cooperation and investment, particularly in the energy and transport connectivity sectors.

In the field of connectivity, we have once again emphasized our preparedness to expand collaboration, including facilitating an access of Tajikistan to the seaports of Karachi and Gwadar in Pakistan.

We have made a useful exchange of views on continuing cooperation in the implementation of energy projects, including on the CASA-1000.

Furthermore, it was mentioned, that the fields of light industry and food, agriculture, production of construction materials and pharmaceuticals could be among prioritized and promising areas of our cooperation.

We expressed our interest in the active involvement of Pakistan business community into the mentioned areas.

In this context, we have proposed to establish joint ventures for the final processing of agricultural products and the production of foodstuffs, especially in the free economic zones of Tajikistan.

With the view of ensuring effectively use of enormous opportunities existing in these sectors, we would very much welcome promotion of ties between the business communities of the two countries.

We agreed that existing mechanisms of fruitful cooperation between the two countries, including the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, as well as other joint specific working groups should reinvigorate their activity.

Given the affinity of cultural traditions and many cultural commonalities we share, cultural and humanitarian ties of the two brotherly nations are considered to be one of the key factors in the bilateral relationships.

By the way, topics of further intensification of cooperation in the fields of science and education, culture and other humanitarian areas were in the spotlight of our discussions.

During the negotiations, we discussed in detail the issues of cooperation in the field of security.

While expressing satisfaction with the level of cooperation in this area, we emphasized our commitment to the continuation of joint resistance to the modern threats and challenges posed by terrorism, extremism, any manifestations of radicalization and organized cross-border crime, weapons smuggling, drug trafficking and cyber-crimes.

We are most of all and vitally interested (have a stake) in the restoration of lasting peace, enduring stability and national reconciliation in war-ravaged Afghanistan.

We in this respect noticed establishment of inclusive government in Afghanistan where different political and ethnic groups are widely present.

We stated our support of constructive efforts that are being taken in the international and regional levels.

Distinguished delegates,

Tajikistan and Pakistan share a common view or a similar position on major international and regional critical issues.

We highly evaluate dynamic (level) of constructive cooperation with Pakistan in the framework of international and regional organizations.

Our countries have fruitful and effective relations under the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Economic Cooperation Organization, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other multilateral international institutions.

We highly praise Pakistan's continuous support for Tajikistan's global initiatives on water and climate agenda.

Dear friends,

It is thirty years now since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

We are pleased to note, that over these years, results-based cooperation between the two countries has been continuously developing and today it embraces different areas and aspects where we have shared interest.

From this point of view, we can confidently say that our collaboration will continue to expand for the benefit of our peoples.

I invited my dear brother, H.E. Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to visit Tajikistan at His Excellency’s convenience.

To conclude, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Your Excellency Mr. Prime Minister, for your generous hospitality and I wish the friendly people of Pakistan everlasting progress, prosperity and the wellbeing.

Thank you!