By IANS,
New Delhi : Describing Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon as an “old friend of India”, President Pranab Mukherjee a brain haemorrhagea brain haemorrhage said Monday India and the Central Asian nation can work together to combat the menace of terrorism and enhance bilateral cooperation in trade and industry, among other things.
Stressing on their rich historical past, President Mukerjee, in his speech at a banquet for President Rahmon, said: “We live in a region beset with many challenges posed by extremist and fundamentalist forces. The menace of terrorism is a common threat…
“India and Tajikistan can do much to combat terrorism. As secular countries, it is essential for us to preserve the secular values of our societies and ensure their safety and security. Our Government looks forward to working with Tajikistan to meet these challenges.”
Stating that the potential of their bilateral co-operation “has no limit”, President Mukherjee said both countries needed to work together to “overcome the adverse effects, on our economies, of the global economic slowdown”.
“Let us collaborate in industries, trade, renewable energy, tourism, culture, and let us support each other in technology, education, and in the capacity building of our peoples,” he said.
India and Tajikistan Monday upgraded their ties to the level of strategic partnership. Referring to this, President Mukherjee said both countries should also enhance their cooperation in “pursuing common goals in the international fora”.
He also stressed that the peace and stability of the region must be given utmost importance, and added that the “independence and progress towards prosperity of Afghanistan was key to peace and stability in South Asia and Central Asia”.
India and Tajikistan recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.