“Iran- Tajikistan relations are both historical and cultural; Tehran is committed to expand relations with Dushanbe in all fields including the economic field.”
Visiting Tajik industry and energy minister who is here to attend the Ninth Meeting of Iran and Tajikistan Joint Economic and Cultural Committee, called for expansion of bilateral relations with Tehran, including the facilitation and acceleration of joint projects.
Iran and Tajikistan signed a memorandum of understanding at the end the eighth meeting of their joint economic and cultural committee in Dushanbe in October, 2011.
Visiting Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou and Tajik Minister of Industry and Energy inked a MOU last year.
Based on the MOU, the two sides agreed to carry out joint projects in different fields such as textile, foodstuff, construction of railways, hydroelectric power plants, dams, cement factories, and so on.
Iran also agreed to export technical and engineering services to Tajikistan.
Iran has recently enhanced efforts to boost political, economic and cultural ties and cooperation with regional and neighboring countries, specially those in the Central Asia.
In March 2010, the Foreign Ministry's Institute for Political and International Studies hosted the 17th international conference on the Central Asia and Caucasus in Tehran.
In addition to Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou, Health Minister Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, Oil Minister Masoud Mir-Kazzemi and Road and Transportation Minister Hamid Behbahani took part in the conference.
Tajikistan's Energy Minister Golshir Ali, representatives from embassies of Turkey, Denmark, Jordan, Venezuela, Pakistan, Georgia, Japan and Switzerland in Iran were also present in the event.
Iran and Tajikistan share a common history, language and culture. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union the two countries have naturally enjoyed a close relationship.
Tajiks and Iranians have been connected historically and culturally for thousands of years. Tajiks speak the Persian language, which is also the official language of Iran.
Iran was the first nation to establish an embassy in Dushanbe. It was also one of the first countries to extend diplomatic recognition of the newly independent Tajikistan in 1991. Iran provided diplomatic assistance and built new mosques within Tajikistan. Due to the resurgence of Iranian culture within Tajikistan, Iran helped encourage cultural exchange through conferences, media, and film festivals. Iranian television programs, magazines, and books became increasingly common in Tajikistan.
In 1995, Tajikistan opened its first embassy in Tehran, one of the few outside of the former USSR. Relations have since grown stronger, as the two nations cooperate in the energy sector and officials from both nations have supported stronger ties.
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Tehran, May 28, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and visiting Tajik Minister of Industry and Energy Golshir Ali stressed development of bilateral relations here on Monday.
