Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday met in Budapest with his Hungarian counterpart Janos Ader on the sidelines of the Budapest Water Summit 2016, according to the Tajik president’s official website.

Tajik president reportedly pointed out that Tajikistan’s next initiative on a new International Decade for Action under the motto ‘Water for Sustainable Development’ would contribute to the achievement of SDGs, and expressed confidence that Hungary, in the spirit of kind traditions of partnership and as an active member of the High-level Panel on Water Issues, would support that initiative. 

The two sides discussed issues of further expansion of long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation between their countries.

The legal foundation of bilateral relationships between Tajikistan and Hungary includes seven cooperation documents and the volume of a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Hungary is reportedly increasing.

Both presidents reportedly expressed satisfaction with an effective continuation and expansion of friendly cooperation between Tajikistan and Hungary within international and regional organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the international financial and economic organizations.  

They also discussed issues related to Hungary’s participation in implementation of small and large hydropower projects in Tajikistan and construction of energy infrastructure of both regional and international significance.

Emomali Rahmon reportedly expressed satisfaction with the current state and prospects of cooperation between Tajikistan and Hungary, and confirmed Tajikistan’s readiness for further expansion of cooperation with Hungary in different fields.

He outlined sectors like chemical industry, agriculture (fruit-and-vegetable processing), mining, production of building materials and aluminum processing as areas which could drive a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Hungary.

Rahmon and Ader also exchanged views on cooperation in combating international terrorism and extremism and providing security and stability in the region, taking into consideration the current situation in Afghanistan.        

Resident Ader accepted President Rahmon’s invitation for an official visit to Tajikistan, the president’s website said.