KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Sunday received the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, both sides touched on the bilateral ties between the two friendly countries and the latest regional and global developments. Acting Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah and senior state officials attended the meeting.

On Sunday, Kuwait and Tajikistan signed several agreements and MoUs in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Tajikistan President. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding in labor exchange in the private sector; Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya signed from the Kuwaiti side and Minister of Labor and Migration Gulnara Hasanzoda signed from the Tajiki side.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya and Tajikistan counterpart Sirodjidin Muhriddin signed a memorandum of understanding between Soud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute and Tajikistan Diplomatic Training Center. Further, Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalifa Abdullah Al-Ajeel and Tajikistan Minister of Economic Development and Trade Zavqizoda Zavqi Amin signed a memorandum of understanding on trade.

Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalifa Abdullah Al-Ajeel and Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sher Ali Kabir signed a memorandum of understanding on industrial cooperation. Kuwait Minister of Finance and State Minister for Economic and Investment Affairs Noura Al-Fassam and Tajikistan Minister of Finance Fayzidin Kaharzoda signed an amendment on agreement between the two governments for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital.

Meanwhile, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Kuwait Zubaydullo Zubaydzoda said that the relationship between his

country and Kuwait has gained special importance amid increasing tensions and challenges the world is facing.

In an interview with KUNA on the occasion of the official visit of Tajikistan’s President to Kuwait, Ambassador Zubaydzoda said that Tajikistan and Kuwait are peace-loving countries and that the visit would reflect the strength of the relationship between them.

He added that President Rahmon discussed with His Highness the Amir the latest developments and security threats in the region. They also discussed the ongoing aggression launched by the Zionist occupation and its crimes against innocent children and women in Gaza and Lebanon. He pointed out that the official visit to Kuwait came after

President Rahmon’s participation in the expanded meeting of the BRICS group and amid the increasing escalation of the conflict in the region and the danger of an all-out war.

Zubaydzoda went on saying that President Rahmon stressed, in his speech at the expanded meeting of the BRICS group, the necessity of stopping the aggression, implementing the Security Council resolutions, and establishing a viable Palestinian state. He said that Kuwait and Tajikistan enjoy a solid foundation for cooperation, pointing out that the two countries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

He noted that the two countries had previously signed cooperation agreements in the fields of education, culture, agriculture, and combating terrorism, pointing out broadening cooperation to include tourism, energy, and water sectors. The ambassador stressed the efforts to secure and facilitate the arrival of tourists from Kuwait to Tajikistan, expressing his hope to increase trade exchange and labor.

Regarding cultural exchange between the two countries, he said that there is much in common in culture and history between Kuwait and Tajikistan, expressing his hope for the activation of the translation movement and the exchange of literary and student delegations. Ambassador Zubaydzoda concluded by praising Kuwait’s great services in the field of Arab cultural work, pointing out that Tajikistan can benefit from Kuwait’s experience in spreading knowledge and culture that supports efforts to combat terrorism. - KUNA