Mohammad Reza Aref, the First Vice President of Iran, emphasized the importance of utilizing historical, cultural, and linguistic commonalities for the development of relations between the two countries during his meeting with Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan. This meeting was held to strengthen bilateral cooperation and establish a union of Persian-speaking countries.
50% Growth in Trade between Iran and Tajikistan
Aref, referring to the deep civilizational ties between Iran and Tajikistan, announced a 50% increase in the volume of trade between the two countries in recent months compared to the same period last year. He noted that this growth has occurred despite existing obstacles, including the imposed war against Iran, and stated that the potential for bilateral cooperation far exceeds the current situation, urging the need to capitalize on existing opportunities for the development of economic and trade relations.
Cooperation in Energy and Technology
Aref also emphasized Iran's readiness to cooperate with Tajikistan in the fields of oil and gas exploration, petrochemical industries, and the export of oil and gas products. He evaluated Emomali Rahmon's proposed plan for creating an energy corridor from South Pars to Afghanistan and Tajikistan as positive and constructive. According to Aref, Iran is interested in expanding trilateral cooperation with Tajikistan and Afghanistan, and there are suitable capacities for the development of this cooperation.
During this meeting, both sides also emphasized the importance of exporting Iranian oil products to Tajikistan and assisting this country in connecting to the free waters of the Persian Gulf. Aref pointed out the potential of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, stating that this organization can help link regional security and stability and should be utilized to expand cooperation in the fields of trade and transportation of goods.
Preserving Common Heritage and Developing Scientific Cooperation
In this meeting, Aref and Rahmon emphasized the necessity of preserving Iranian culture and civilization and the common heritage of Persian speakers. The First Vice President of Iran referred to the implementation of the memorandum of understanding for establishing a joint technology center between Iran and Tajikistan, stating that this center can provide the groundwork for expanding joint activities and developing scientific and technological cooperation. Both sides stressed the operationalization of this center and the use of scientific and technological capacities to enhance bilateral relations.
Overall, this meeting reflects the strong determination of both countries to strengthen economic, cultural, and scientific cooperation and can be considered an effective step towards the establishment of a union of Persian-speaking countries.
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