Mongolia, Tajikistan sign deals to expand ties, cooperation during landmark visit

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Mongolia and Tajikistan on Thursday signed major cooperation deals to expand bilateral ties and cooperation during a landmark visit by Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to the Central Asian nation.

President Emomali Rahmon and his visiting Mongolian counterpart took part in a ceremony on the signing of the documents in the capital Dushanbe following bilateral talks, during which they also signed a joint statement “on the further development, strengthening of friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation,” said a statement by the Tajik presidency.

The statement said 10 documents were signed during the ceremony, including memoranda on expanding cooperation between their ministries of foreign affairs, energy, agriculture, tourism and emergencies.

The signing of the documents comes as Khurelsukh arrived in Tajikistan on Wednesday in the first-ever visit by a Mongolian president to the Central Asian nation since the countries established diplomatic ties in 1992.

His visit follows a four-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, during which he and his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov signed a joint declaration on the establishment of a comprehensive partnership between the two countries.