Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday received Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, who is in Tajikistan on an official visit for participation in the  14th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum that is being held in the Tajik capital today, according to the Tajik president’s official website.  

The parties reportedly discussed the state and prospects of further expansion of the bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and Korea.  

Emomali Rahmon, in particular, noted, “We consider the Republic of Korea as our reliable partner in the international arena and attach significance for further expansion of cooperation with it in accordance with our common interests.”  

Rahmon and Chang, in particular, discussed issues related to the bilateral economic, scientific, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Tajikistan and Korea. 

It was reportedly highlighted that the further activity of the joint intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation and expansion of the bilateral cooperation within the framework of the joint business forum will promote the trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.  

Tajik leader reportedly outlined agriculture, transport, minerals, communications, tourism and chemicals as areas that could drive the bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the republic of Korea.  

While touching upon the situation in neighboring Afghanistan, the parties pointed to the necessity of the international community providing humanitarian aid to the people of this country through the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations, the Tajik president’s official website said. 

Meanwhile the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea notes that Chung, agreeing to President Rahmon’s assessment of the advances in bilateral relations, explained the Korean government’s efforts to promote cooperation with Tajikistan, including the establishment of the Korean Embassy in the country this year, the designation of Tajikistan as Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) priority partner country, and the opening of the Office of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Dushanbe next year.

He reportedly voiced hope that Korea and Tajikistan will work for mutually beneficial development through a harmonious nexus between the former’s New Northern Policy and the latter’s National Development Strategy.

Korean Foreign Minister Chung offered gratitude to Tajikistan for its official willingness to become a member of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), expressing his pleasure with the groundwork having been laid for Korea and the five Central Asian countries to expand cooperation on global environmental issues through GGGI.

President Rahmon reportedly mentioned that Tajikistan is competitive in the area of green energy such as water resources, and voiced hope to increase policy cooperation with Korea in the field of green growth