DUSHANBE, March 16 - Two further political and economic relations Tajikistan and Azerbaijan reached an agreement on exchange of embassies, President Emomali Rahmonov and his Azerbaijan’s counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, announced at a briefing in Dushanbe on March 15.  

Speaking to journalists, President Rahmonov noted, “We laid a good foundation of further development of relations between our countries today, signing an agreement on visa-free travels.” 

On the economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, Rahmonov noted that annually, a two-way trade between the two countries increases by 22 percent.

Rahmonov noted that more than 400 investment projects are currently being implemented  in different sectors

Asked about possibility of participation of Azeri companies in the projects aimed at development of the gas-and-oil sector in Tajikistan, Ilham Aliyev said that for this, specialists from the Azeri companies should arrive in Tajikistan to explore the local oil and gas reserves. 

During the briefing it was noted that a business forum with participation of the Azeri entrepreneurs may possibly be held in Tajikistan.

On a settlement in Nagorny Karabakh, President Rahmonov noted that Tajikistan, as supporter of peaceful processes, has welcomed the resumption of negotiations to discuss ways to seek peaceful solution to the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.  He noted that negotiations are the only way to settle this problem.  

The Azeri head of state noted that the time of crisis had been over.  “We welcome the opportunity to settle the conflict within the framework of international legal norms and resolution of the UN Security Council,” Aliyev said.  

At the end of the briefing, President Rahmonov said that he had received invitation to visit Baku before the end of the year in order to continue discussions to give impulse to further expansion of cooperation between the two countries and speed up a process of the implementation of projects.