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| Zardari, Rahmon discuss bilateral ties, quadrilateral summit |
Friday, 31 August 2012 10:54:04
Zardari, Rahmon discuss bilateral ties, quadrilateral summit
TEHRAN, Aug 30 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari and President
of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon on Thursday discussed bilateral ties,
cooperation in trade and energy sectors and vowed to make the
forthcoming quadrilateral summit in Islamabad a success.
President Zardari and President Rahmon, besides discussing
the bilateral ties spanning over a decade, agreed to further
strengthen and make the relationship more meaningful.
They also discussed regional situation and the way forward to
address the issues of common concern.
President Zardari, who has already extended an invitation to
the presidents of Russia, Afghanistan and Tajikistan to participate
in the 4th Quadrilateral Summit in Islamabad on September 26-27,
hoped that the meeting would help the participating countries
chart out a joint future course of action for regional peace.
President Zardari said that being the immediate neighbours,
both Pakistan and Tajikistan have vital stakes with the regional
peace and stability.
He reiterated Pakistan's stance of fully supporting an
Afghan-led and Afghan-owned transition plan.
President Rahmon said that his country shared the desire of
Pakistan for lasting peace in the region and would work closely
with the regional countries to achieve this goal.
The two leaders, who have met frequently in the past, reviewed
the progress made on earlier decisions and stressed expeditious
implementation for the mutual benefit of the peoples of two
countries.
Pakistan and Tajikistan have already signed about 20
agreements for cooperation in energy, communications, investments
and industry, air transport, banking and financial, agricultural and
food industry, transport and constructions of roads, science and
technology.
President Zardari while noting the increase in bilateral trade with
Tajikistan, said that Pakistan's economic relations with Tajikistan were
on an upward trajectory. However, he pointed out that there was still a
rich potential to increase them manifolds.
The President said that the two sides needed to work harder on the
removal of impediments and invest more on building air, road and
rail links, besides easing the problems faced by the businessmen of the
two countries.
Pakistan has been urging Afghanistan to facilitate the opening
of a road linkage through the Wakhan corridor as it provides a
shorter route to Tajikistan.
The leaders also discussed the CASA-1000 (Central Asia-South
Asia) project, under which Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would supply
1000 MW electricity to Pakistan through Afghanistan, becoming the
first energy project connecting Central Asia and South Asia.
Afghanistan too will get 300 MW power from the project.
The Tajik President said that the centuries old historical and
cultural links between the people of Pakistan and Tajikistan provided
a strong basis for further enhancing their economic relations,
tourism and people-to-people contacts.
The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani
Khar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto
Zardari.
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