RI, Tajikistan agree to to upgrade diplomatic ties
RI, Tajikistan agree to to upgrade diplomatic ties
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia and Tajikistan agreed on Tuesday to strengthen their
diplomatic ties and signed several agreements to increase future
economic cooperation.
After bilateral talks, President Megawati Soekarnoputri and
visiting Tajikistan President Emomali Sharipovich Rahmonov said
the economic agreements would give more meaning to the diplomatic
ties between the two countries, both of which have large Muslim
populations.
"Discussion in various fields will give a new impulse in the
bilateral relations of our two countries," President Rahmonov
said during a joint press briefing with Megawati.
He suggested that there should be further action to increase
the value of trade between the two countries in the future.
Megawati said she and Rahmonov also discussed various
international and regional issues such as terrorism, Iraq,
Palestine and Afghanistan.
"We share the view that there should be a consistent fight
against terrorism and it should also address the root cause of
terror, which is injustice in some parts of the world," Megawati
said.
She said that on Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan, the two
leaders agreed that these problems should be resolved within the
framework of the United Nations.
President Rahmonov said Tajikistan and Indonesia had "similar
positions in regard to these regional and international issues".
The Tajikistan President is on a five-day state visit to
Indonesia, the first official visit by a Tajikistan head of state
since the country gained its independence in 1989.
He arrived late on Monday at Halim Perdanakusumah airport in
Jakarta from Tajikistan.
After the meeting, the two presidents witnessed the signing of
six memorandums of understanding on the avoidance of double
taxation, promotion and protection of investment, establishment
of joint commissions and cooperation in the fields of trade,
education and tourism.
Indonesian Minister of Trade and Industry Rini MS Soewandi
said the trade value between the two countries stood at about
US$300,000 annually "and can be further exploited".
During the press conference, President Rahmonov also invited
President Megawati to visit Tajikistan.
Later on Tuesday, President Rahmonov made courtesy calls on
Vice President Hamzah Haz and People's Consultative Assembly
Speaker Amien Rais, and attended a dinner at the State Palace.
On Wednesday, the visiting President will receive a courtesy
call from Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and hold a
meeting with executives from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce.
President Rahmonov is also slated to meet with House of
Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung and visit the PT National
Gobel Electronics Industries plant.
After the visit, Rahmonov and his entourage will leave for the
resort island of Bali, where they will stay for two days before
flying back to Tajikistan.