ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Tajikistan on Tuesday expressed determination to enhance their friendship and partnership to `new heights' through increased cooperation in diverse fields, including trade and economy, infrastructure, communication, energy, agriculture, health and sports.
This determination was made during wide-ranging one-on-one as well as delegation level talks between Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon here at the PM House, that followed the signing of a comprehensive Joint Declaration, covering all areas of cooperation.
The two sides also signed bilateral agreements to enhance cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan in the areas of food, agriculture, health and sports.
Later at a joint press stakeout, Prime Minister Gilani and President Rahmon termed their talks as well as agreements extremely "productive and future oriented" and "a step forward" to further strengthen their ties.
Prime Minister Gilani said that Pakistan attached high importance to further strengthening its brotherly relations and partnership with Tajikistan, adding, "Tajikistan is our near neighbour separated by Wakhan corridor. Our two countries enjoy deep rooted bonds of history, culture, literature and traditions."
He expressed satisfaction over the talks during which the two sides held in-depth review of the bilateral relations as well as the regional and international situation.
"Our two countries enjoy similarity of views on all important issues. We are determined to enhance our friendship and partnership to new heights", he added.
The Prime Minister said that the comprehensive Joint Declaration signed between the two countries provided a broad ranging framework for the future direction of bilateral relations, adding, "this declaration covers all key areas of bilateral cooperation".
"Our mutual interaction was extremely cordial, productive and future oriented", he said and added the two sides also signed agreements on Health, Food and Agriculture and Sports.
The Prime Minister also referred to the meeting of President Emomali Rahmon and President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday and said that they held in-depth exchange of views.
President Zardari also decorated President Rahmon with the highest Civil Award of Pakistan, he said and added that President Rahmon would be visiting Karachi on Wednesday where he would visit the Mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam and also participate in a business forum.
The Prime Minister on this occasion also expressed good wishes for the progress and prosperity of the brotherly people of Tajikistan.
President Emomali Rahmon said his visit on the invitation of President Zardari was aimed at not only to strengthen bilateral relations but to exchange views on crucial regional and international issues, with particular focus on the role of two countries in resolving these issues.
The Tajik President termed his talks with the Pakistani leadership, including the President and the Prime Minister, as "very substantive and constructive".
He was confident that Pakistan-Tajikistan Business Forum to be held in Karachi on Wednesday would open a "new horizon of cooperation" to help boost bilateral relations.
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