Iran, Tajikistan Closer Ties to Benefit Entire Region: Rouhani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said enhanced relations between Iran and Tajikistan would serve the interests of other regional countries.
“Strengthened ties between Tehran and Dushanbe will definitely benefit other governments and the entire region,” Rouhani said in a joint press conference with his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe on Wednesday.
He highlighted the cultural and historical commonalities between Iran and Tajikistan, and said the common language spoken in the two countries has already paved the way for the expansion of tourism industry and increased efforts by businessmen, merchants and entrepreneurs to strengthen bilateral economic ties.
The Iranian chief executive further felicitated the Tajiks on Tajikistan’s National Day, and noted that Iran was the first state to recognize the Central Asian country’s independence in 1991.
President Rouhani arrived in Tajikistan on Wednesday to discuss bilateral ties with Tajik officials and also take part in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The SCO is an intergovernmental organization that was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Iran, along with four other countries, holds observer status in the organization.