On Tuesday September 17, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon met in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz on the sidelines of the second Meeting of Heads of State of Central Asia and Germany.

The Tajik president’s official website says the parties discussed issues related to further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Germany and regional cooperation.

At the beginning of the conversation, Emomali Rahmon reportedly expressed his satisfaction with the expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and Germany and other European countries, as well as the growing interest of the German economic circles in Tajikistan.

The significant contribution of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the German Development Bank (KfW) in the implementation of national strategies of Tajikistan was emphasized.

The parties reportedly expressed interest in continuing effective cooperation in the fields of trade, industry, hydropower, solar and wind energy, transport and agriculture.

Tajik leader expressed his gratitude for Germany's contribution to the construction of the Tojikiston and Sebzor hydropower plants in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), as well as the modernization of the Nurek hydropower plant, and expressed his belief that this experience can be continued in the construction of the Roghun hydropower plant in Tajikistan.

Rahmon outlined sectors like mining, mineral processing, industry, agriculture and the exports of export of products of these sectors from Tajikistan to Germany as areas, which could drive the bilateral trade between the two countries.   

Olaf Scholtz, for his part, reportedly stated that Germany is interested in cooperation with Tajikistan in energy sectors, including hydropower and other "green" energy sources, mining industry, environmental protection and security issues.

"We encourage German companies with global influence to cooperate with Tajikistan", - Mr. Scholtz emphasized.

Solutions to global problems related to drinking water and melting glaciers, climate change and food security were reportedly other topics of the meeting.

It was stressed that given the great interest of Tajik youth, Tajikistan is ready to expand cooperation with Germany in order to introduce language and professional educational programs.

Rahmon and Scholtz also exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues being of mutual interest.  

At the end of the meeting, Emomali Rahmon invited the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholtz, to pay an official visit to Tajikistan.