Kazakhstan, Tajikistan vow to boost partnership

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Kazakhstan and Tajikistan pledged to deepen their partnership during Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu’s visit to Dushanbe, where he met Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Mukhriddin and President Emomali Rahmon, according to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry on Friday.

The two ministers reviewed cooperation in politics, trade, energy, transport and culture. They set a goal to raise trade to $2 billion, with Kazakhstan ready to increase exports of farm, food and engineering products to Tajikistan by $200 million.

“Kazakhstan highly appreciates Tajikistan’s efforts to strengthen stability and security in Central Asia,” Nurtleu said.

Rahmon praised the strong level of ties and voiced support for regional initiatives of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

An outcome of the visit was Rahmon’s signing of the Treaty on Friendship, Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation for the Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century.

Kazakhstan and Tajikistan say their growing alliance is key to regional peace and development.