Pacts signed as Amir, Tajik leader hold talks

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held Thursday an official session of talks with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon at the presidential palace, Palace of the Nation, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
At the beginning of the session, the Tajik president welcomed His Highness the Amir, expressing his aspiration to strengthen relations between the two countries in various fields. The president pointed out that the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries falls next year.
For his part, His Highness the Amir extended his thanks to the Tajik president for the warm reception, pointing out that the bilateral relations are witnessing growth in several fields. His Highness the Amir stressed Qatar's keenness to strengthen these relations, explaining the inauguration of the Grand Mosque Thursday in Dushanbe is a testament to the strength of relations between the two brotherly countries.
The two leaders reviewed bilateral co-operation, and ways to enhance and develop it in various fields. The session also addressed the overall events and developments on the regional and international arenas.
HE the Chief of the Amiri Diwan Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani, HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi attended the talks session, as well as several senior officials and members of the official delegation accompanying His Highness the Amir.
On the Tajik side, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Assistant to the President of Tajikistan on Foreign Relations Latifzod Sharifi Azamsho, Assistant to the President for Economic Affairs Hikmatullozoda Nematullo, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Zavqizoda Zavqi and Minister of Culture Davlatzoda Zulfiya attended the talks session, as well as several senior officials.
His Highness the Amir and the Tajik president held a bilateral meeting, in which they discussed the overall co-operation, in addition to several issues of common concern.
Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir and Tajik President Rahmon witnessed Thursday at the Palace of the Nation in Dushanbe, a ceremony where a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed between the governments of the two countries.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Doha Municipality and the State Executive Authority of Dushanbe City to establish 'twinningship' relations between sister cities; an agreement on abolishing visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports between the governments of Qatar and Tajikistan; an MoU for co-operation in the field of diplomatic training and education between the two countries' ministries of Foreign Affairs; an MoU in the field of trade between Qatar's Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Tajikistan's Ministry of Commerce and Economic Development; and a co-operation agreement in the fields of standardisation, metrology and conformity assessment between the Qatar General Organisation for Standardisation and Metrology and the Tajik Agency for Standardisation, Metrology, Certification and Commercial Inspection.
His Highness the Amir and the Tajik president also witnessed the signing of an MoU for co-operation in the field of agriculture and food security between Qatar's Ministry of Municipality and Tajikistan's Ministry of Agriculture; an MoU for co-operation in the field of protecting endangered wildlife and preserving its natural environment between the governments of Qatar and Tajikistan; an MoU for co-operation in the field of construction and infrastructure between the two governments; an MoU for co-operation in the fields of tourism and business activities between the two governments; and an agreement for co-operation in the fields of physical education and sports between the two governments.
Further, they witnessed the signing of an MoU for co-operation in the field of youth between the governments of Qatar and Tajikistan; an agreement on defence co-operation between the two countries' ministries of Defence; an MoU regarding co-operation in the field of endowments and Islamic affairs between Qatar's Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and the Tajik government's Religious Committee and the Organisation of Traditions, Celebrations and Ceremonies; an MoU regarding co-operation between Qatar's Ministry of Labour and the Tajik Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population Employment; and a co-operation programme between the two countries' ministries of Justice for the 2023-2025 period.
Members of the official delegation accompanying His Highness the Amir attended the signing ceremony.
On the Tajik side, it was attended by a number of ministers and senior officials.
Later Thursday, His Highness the Amir left Dushanbe after the state visit to Tajikistan, as part of a tour that included Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan.
His Highness and the accompanying delegation were seen off at Dushanbe International Airport by Zokirzoda, Muhriddin, Zavqi, al-Nasr, Sohibzoda and members of the Qatari embassy.
His Highness the Amir sent a cable to Tajik President Rahmon, expressing his sincere thanks and appreciation for the warm welcome accorded to him and the accompanying delegation during the visit to Dushanbe. His Highness the Amir expressed happiness at meeting the president and discussing with him all issues of mutual concern for the two countries, which affirmed the shared keenness to continue supporting and strengthening the solid relations and fruitful co-operation between them in various fields for the benefit of the two nations.