State visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to the Republic of India (6-10 August, 2006)

Tajikistan and India have historical connect that were planted in the course of the centuries. Common cultural and historical values are making closer the peoples of the two countries.
From 6 to 10 August 2006 at the invitation of Indian side, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon made a state visit to which was attached the greatest importance.
The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon was greeted President of the Republic of India Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh.
President of the Republic of Tajikistan, as a mark of respect to the Indian people and the state have visited the grave of a great historical figure, the leader of the Indian people of Mahatma Gandhi. The Head of State of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon placed on the grave flowers and observed a minute of silence in memory of Mahatma Gandhi.

After that the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh received Head of State of Tajikistan in Hyderabad House, where started negotiations between Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of India.During the meeting the President of Tajikistan expressed appreciation to India for the invitation to carry out this visit and for the warm welcome, as well as for the continued assistance and support.


He stressed that the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with the Republic of India are among the main and important regional and international strategy to Tajikistan. Expressing satisfaction with the political dialogue at the highest level, President Emomali Rahmon pointed to the importance of the development of inter-parliamentary and military ties between two countries, stressing that today Tajikistan needs in the military, aviation, technical expertise, as well as assistance to its border.
The discussion of these and other issues Tajik-Indian cooperation was continued during the meeting in an enlarged with the participation of official delegations. Both sides stressed that the possibilities of improving cooperation between the two countries giving great chances in the fields of energy, science, education, health and cultural.
The Indian side, in view of the accelerated development of the Tajik economy and the very favorable conditions for investment in various sectors, including energy has taken a great interest in a joint meeting with Tajikistan facilities for the processing of aluminum, as well as to cooperate in the field of information technology. Parties considered the establishment to the Information Technology Center behalf Bedil, as well as the construction in Dushanbe five-star Hotel, as simples of the development of bilateral cooperation.
They supported the proposal Interstate Commission for trade and economic and technological cooperation and also technological exchange experience, describing it as an important factor for further expansion of bilateral economic cooperation. In discussing regional and global security, the two sides strongly condemned that the problems around of the Middle East could only be solved by diplomatic means.
. The parties also called for the strengthening of cooperation and collaboration in the interest of maintaining security and stability in the region. After the meeting two countries signed five bilateral documents (Joint Declaration of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of India on the further development of relations of friendship and cooperation, the Memorandum of Understanding on consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Republic of India on cooperation in the field of energy, the programmer of cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Republic of India in the field of culture and arts for the years 2006-2009 and the Programmer of cooperation between the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Department of Science and Technology of the Republic of India for the years 2006-2008).
On the same day, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon had a good and substantive meeting with the Indian businessmen, industrialists and traders

It was attended by members of the official delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as representatives of the business community of our country. In his speech at the meeting, President of the Republic of Tajikistan pointed to the great potential of development and the expansion of bilateral cooperation in various fields.
Emomali Rahmon after the speech answered to the many questions from the participants of the joint business forum two countries and praised them for their direct contribution to the development of fruitful bilateral cooperation. Indian businessmen stressed their interest in cooperation in areas such as hydropower, cotton processing, extraction and processing of mineral resources, the production of medicines and services.
President of Tajikistan welcomed the interest and commitment of Government and the business community of India to initiate and promote cooperation in industry sector. The parties reached agreement on the establishment of a competent working group to explore and share a wide range of Tajikistan in the field of mining and non-ferrous metals. It was stressed that the working group should first consider the possibility of setting up joint production ventures.
On 7 August, Emomali Rahmon met the former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpay.  Expressing satisfaction at the level of relations between the two countries and a sound basis for long-term cooperation. Emomali Rahmon commended the contribution of Atal Bihari Vajpay to these notable achievements and said, that Mr. Vajpay played grate role for improving political relation between Tajikistan and India and his role policy will be marked in the history relation two country and two people. Atal Bihari Vajpay from him side called an important step towards the development of bilateral relations academic scientific conferences on the role of Tajikistan in regional cooperation and the creation prominent Tajik and Indian peoples, Bobojon Ghafurov and Rabindranath Tagore. They called for the continuation of in the future such events.

On the same day President of Tajikistan had meeting with the President of India. Emomali Rahmon thanked Abdul Kalam, gratitude for the invitation, warm and sincere welcome. President of Tajikistan stressed that his state visit to India is very important and he hoped that it would be beginning of a qualitatively new stage in relation between Tajikistan and India.
The meeting had an exchange of views on the continuation of political dialogue, which is a very important factor in the expansion of bilateral relations, the development of fruitful economic cooperation. Both sides were agree of the realization result of the working group of the Interstate Commission for trade, economic and technological cooperation, the implementation of the plan Tajik-India Joint Working Group to combat global threats for the reconstruction of the Afghan economy, a factor in the strengthening of regional security and stability, as well as on the development of cooperation in the social and scientists field. In discussing political issues, as well as issues of regional and global security were shown unity or proximity of the parties. President of India noting the historical and cultural commonality, as well as ownership of the Indian and Tajik peoples in a single Aryan civilization, expressed satisfaction that the Head of State of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon began a state visit to India with a visit to the Bogi Bedil (poet Mirzo Abdulkodir Bedil). Expressing satisfaction, the parties have expressed optimism about prospects for cooperation between the two friendly countries.
On the 8th of August President of Tajikistan attended and spoke at the International Conference on the topic “The role and place of Tajikistan in Regional Cooperation”, which was held at the Indian Council for World. Affairs in New Delhi. The conference was organized at the direct initiative of the President of Tajikistan, the Embassy of Tajikistan in India, Indian Council of World Affairs and India-Central Asia Foundation. Prominent scholars of both countries, representatives accredited in New Delhi diplomatic corps and numerous journalists, attended it. The Conference is divided into three sections.
The first part paid attention to the analysis of the history of Tajiki-Indian relations
During his speech, President of Tajikistan described members on the role and important contributions of Tajikistan in the decision of the Central Asia and Afghanistan issues. Emomali Rahmon invited all countries in the region for the playing effective role in the normalization of the situation in Afghanistan and its post-war reconstruction. The fight against drug production and trafficking needs a very close cooperation. He stressed that the realization of strategic projects of Tajikistan in the field of energy, transport and road construction is an important measure of Tajik nation on the way out of the country from the deep internal problems and communication crisis. President of Tajikistan also noted that the projects to build large Hydropower stations, a regional electro-transmission line, regional railways and roads have been recognized and supported, as an important factors in the development of cooperation between the regions of Central and South Asia, by the political leadership and the people of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. He expressed satisfaction that India has expressed its interest in participation in the regional cooperation.

Speakers at the conference of the representatives of the political leadership of India and scientists supported the proposals of President of Tajikistan.
It was also noted that in order to bring about a better understanding Tajikistan, the history and culture of Tajik nation, the Research Institute for Central Asia after Mavlono Abdul Kalam Ozod in the Calcutta translated books Bobojon Gafurov “Tojikon”.

Tajik specialists translated to the Tajik language works of the classical Indian literature Rabindranath Tagore.
The Conference stressed that the development of cultural relations and mutual exchanging in cultural and historical ties showing that history of civilizations and each other, with many common roots sources originating

from the ancient Aryan civilization can play an important role in strengthening and promoting relations between the two friendly countries.
The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon made a great personal contribution in the promoting of unlimited possibilities of the development of bilateral, regional and international cooperation.
After the Conference President of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan Mamadsho Ilolov and President of the Indian Council for World Affairs Talmiz Ahmad signed an important document on scientific cooperation.
On the 8th of August, President of the Republic of Tajikistan with the view to learning from the experiences of the development of production, business, trade and tourism, as well as the historical and cultural civilization of the country, visited the city of Jaipur. During the visit President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon met with the Governor of the state of Rajasthan, India, Pratibha Pateel. The meeting discussed issues of direct cultural, trade relations, as well as cooperation in the field of agricultural and tourism between the regions of Tajikistan an India.
On August 9, President of Tajikistan visited Hydarabad city, the administrative center of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. During the tour in Andhra Pradesh Emomali Rahmon visited BHEL (Bharat Hydropower Electronics Limited), one of the world’s largest generators, transformations and other power equipments. President was informed about production potential of the business. It was noted that BHEL has 14 large industries and the four regional centers. The number of its stuff is 43.5 thousands of people, including 10 000 engineers and other high levels specialists.
In the second half of the day, President of Tajikistan met with the Governor of the Andhra Pradesh Rameshvar Takyr. Among the main topics of conversation has been the establishment and development of relations of cooperation between the regions of Tajikistan and India. It was mentioned cultural and historical commonalities in Hyderabad with the Tajik people. The parties stressed the mutual readiness to expand cooperation in areas such as hydropower, light industry, cotton and tourism. Both sides called for the expansion of cultural ties.
It should be noted that the culture had a special place during the state visit of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to India.

The visit began on August 6, 2006 with the participation of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and members of the delegation accompanying him in New Delhi in the opening ceremony of memorial at the “Bogi Bedil”, Tajik poet Mirzo Abdulkodir Bedil and held on the occasion of the commemorative ceremony.

At the ceremony, Emomali Rahmon withdrew covered with a memorial scientific, literary and cultural works Mirzo Abdulkodir Bedil, one of the largest representatives of Tajik Scientific and Culture. Emomali Rahmon stressed that on that day, at the beginning of the 21st century these works are proof of the historical connection between the people of Tajikistan and India.
Firs of all, President said, that poems of Bedil could be an important factor in the strengthening of friendship and all-round cooperation between Tajik and Indian people. That event was an important event for the promoting of Aryan culture in the capital of the India.
The state visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of India was widely reported by the media of India, who noted the great importance not only for two friendly countries, but also for the whole region. The first state visit of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to the Republic of India was important for the further development of Tajik-Indian cooperation. India’s major initiative of the President of Tajikistan to promote regional cooperation in the field of hydroelectric power, the establishment of a regional electricity market, the realization of projects in the field of transport and road construction, as well as to promote the country’s economic recovery of the Afghanistan.
This year, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon on his Annual address to the Majlisi Oli Republic of Tajikistan stressed that Tajikistan has good relation with India and looking forward for improving friendship and constructive cooperation with India. The relation with India is one of the priority directions of foreign policy of the Republic of Tajikistan.  

The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan
in the Republic of India
New Delhi