On January 16, a grand welcoming ceremony for the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Masoud Pezeshkian, was held at the Palace of the Nation, which was festively decorated in honor of the first state visit of the high-ranking guest.
The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, warmly welcomed the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Masoud Pezeshkian, and invited him to the tribune of honor.
The welcoming ceremony began with a report by the commander of the guard of honor to the high-ranking guest, the performance of the national anthems of the two countries, passing by the guard of honor, paying homage to the State Flag of Tajikistan, and introduction of the official delegations of the two sides, and ended with a ceremonial march and the passing of the guard of honor in front of the heads of the two states.
Also, artillery shells were fired 21 times in honor of the state visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Discussion of a wide range of issues related to the strengthening and expansion of friendly relations and cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran began at a special meeting between the heads of state of the two countries - His Excellency Emomali Rahmon and His Excellency Masoud Pezeshkian, and continued in expanded negotiations with the participation of delegations from both sides at the Palace of the Nation.
The Head of State of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, warmly welcomed the high-ranking guest and noted that “the people of Tajikistan and Iran are united by an inextricable historical, cultural and civilizational commonality”.
It was emphasized that “the effective role of this commonality in strengthening the atmosphere of good understanding, trust and mutual respect between our two friendly, cooperative and brotherly countries is being felt more and more every year”.
Satisfaction was expressed with the current level and content of multifaceted relations between Tajikistan and Iran.
During the talks, a broad scope of issues related to the expansion of cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and trade, investment and tourism, security, science and culture, healthcare and other aspects of interest to both sides were discussed.
The expansion of cooperation in various industrial sectors, including mineral processing, production of construction materials, food, medicine, energy, agriculture, and the extensive use of Tajikistan's free economic zones, as well as the transport and transit potential of Iran, in particular the ports of Chabahar and Bandar Abbas, was considered beneficial to both sides.
It was noted that currently 160 companies with Iranian capital are operating in Tajikistan, and in 2024 the volume of goods transported increased by 3.2 times compared to two years ago.
The greater activation of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Technical and Cultural Cooperation, the regular work of the Council and the Joint Committee on Entrepreneurship and Investment, and the comprehensive implementation of the Program for Economic and Trade Cooperation until 2030 and its Road Map were considered important.
Much attention was also paid to the need to expand inter-parliamentary relations. The further expansion of inter-parliamentary relations was considered an important motive for greater kinship and closeness between the two sides.
The two sides considered the strengthening and expansion of scientific and cultural ties to be important and expressed their interest in launching joint initiatives to protect common historical, cultural and civilizational values and heritage.
The exchange of views also took place on various topics of cooperation on regional and global issues of interest to the two friendly countries. In this regard, the need for coordinated cooperation in the region and the world in combating the undesirable manifestations of terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and cybercrime was emphasized.
Based on the results of the high-level talks between Tajikistan and Iran, 23 new cooperation documents were signed with the participation and in presence of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Masoud Pezeshkian.
The heads of the two states, Honorable Emomali Rahmon and Honorable Masoud Pezeshkian, signed the Joint Communique of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Other signed documents were as follows:
- Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Cooperation Implementation Program between the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the development of cargo transit through the Chabahar port;
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of the Islamic Republic of Iran on cooperation in the field of national and modern crafts;
- Action Plan for the Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Cooperation in the field of Industry and New Technologies for the period 2025-2027;
- Memorandum of Understanding between the National University of Tajikistan and the Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Agrarian University of Tajikistan named after Shirinshoh Shohtemur and the Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Program of Joint Actions to the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Welfare Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Social Fields and Protection of Vulnerable Groups;
- Memorandum of Understanding between the State Medical University of Tajikistan named after Avicenna and the Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Republican Scientific Blood Center of Tajikistan and the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization;
- Memorandum of Understanding on Animal and Veterinary Health between the Food Safety Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Committee for Women and Family Affairs under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Vice President for Women and Family Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Cooperation in Women and Family Affairs;
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Agency of the Republic of Tajikistan for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption and the General Auditing Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Cooperation in Combating Corruption;
- Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Statistical Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Statistical Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Agency for Standardization, Metrology, Certification and Trade Inspection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the National Standards Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the field of standardization and metrology;
- Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technologies between the Communications Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding on Training between the Customs Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Customs Administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding between the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and the Research Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Main Archives Department under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the National Library and Archives of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Center for Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Research Center of the Islamic Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the State Institution of the Center for Islamic Studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Scientific Research Center of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Joint Stock Company of International Exhibitions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the field of exhibitions.
The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Masoud Pezeshkian, held a press conference for the media after the meeting and negotiations and the ceremony of signing documents.
The Head of State of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, expressed satisfaction with the course and results of the high-level meetings and negotiations and the process of strengthening and expanding relations between Tajikistan and Iran in all relevant aspects. In particular, he welcomed the abolition of the visa regime between the two countries, emphasizing that this initiative will be beneficial for the expansion of relations in all areas.
In his turn, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Masoud Pezeshkian, highly appreciated the warm welcome and hospitality of our side and the course of his first visit to Tajikistan, which has a status of state visit, and expressed confidence that the implementation of its results will be fruitful for both sides.
The direct participation of the heads of the two states in this forum is a testament to the significant importance and priority of economic and trade relations, investment and tourism in the overall multifaceted relations between the two countries, which share the same language and culture.
The Head of State of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, welcomed the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Masoud Pezeshkian, his accompanying delegation, and the Iranian businessmen, entrepreneurs and investors to Tajikistan and to this very important forum, and personally presented the most important opportunities and advantages of tourism, investment and trade with our country.
As noted, in 2024, the volume of trade between the two countries increased by almost 50 percent compared to 2023, which “indicates the existence of sufficient potential for further expansion of economic relations between the two sides”.
Honorable Emomali Rahmon recalled the existence of abundant natural resources such as water, minerals, rare metals, immense potential for the production of “green” energy and the development of a “green” economy, the establishment of profitable cooperation in the mining, food, textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, construction materials, energy, metallurgical, mechanical engineering, agriculture sectors, and the use of large turnover potential, and called on those present to cooperate effectively.
It was emphasized that “the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has established 110 tax and customs benefits and incentives for investors, in total more than 240 types of legal guarantees”.
The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Honorable Masoud Pezeshkian, in turn, emphasized the readiness and commitment of the Iranian Government and business and investment circles to strengthen and expand relations with Tajikistan, and called on both sides to find new and profitable ways of cooperation.
It is worth noting that the Tajikistan-Iran Trade, Economic, Investment and Tourism Forum began on January 15 with a Dialogue of representatives of the private sectors of the parties, and continued and successfully concluded on January 16 with the presence of the heads of state.
Based on the results of these activities, 13 cooperation documents were signed between entrepreneurs and investors of Tajikistan and Iran worth more than 450 million US dollars.
