Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, friendly and partner countries
By Aynur Jafarova
Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, which have deep historical and cultural ties, are friendly and partner countries.
This remark was made at a meeting of Speaker of the Lower House of the Tajik Majlisi Oli Shukurjon Zuhurov and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who was on an official visit to Tajikistan, on October 16.
The sides expressed their satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations, and stressed the importance of the role of parliaments in the expansion of relations between the two countries.
They also highly appreciated the Joint Declaration undersigned on the same day by the Azerbaijani and Tajik presidents, saying this document will greatly contribute to the deepening of cooperation even further.
President Aliyev also met with Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda, and the sides discussed prospects of the bilateral relations.
Later, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon hosted an official dinner reception in honor of the Azerbaijani president.
On the same day, President Aliyev's official visit to Tajikistan ended, and the Azerbaijani head of state was seen off by his Tajik counterpart.
Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, both post-Soviet republics established diplomatic relations on May 29, 1992.
The two countries' cooperation reached a new level in 2008, when an intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation launched. It coordinates the realization of economic ties and develops new offers for future cooperation.
Currently, the legal base of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan relations consists of over 30 documents. This legal base paves the way for strengthening and developing future political, economic, humanitarian banking, as well as investment relations between them.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan amounted to $11 million in the first half of 2014, and it enjoys great capacity to increase in the coming years. Tajikistan purchases aluminum oxide, coke and other raw materials.