Tajikistan-France cooperation discussed in Paris 

DUSHANBE, April 4, Asia-Plus – Tajik Deputy Foreign Minister, Muzaffar Huseinzoda, on March 29 met in Paris with Mr. Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France, on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers of France and Central Asia’s nations on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Central Asian countries.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, Huseinzoda and Ayrault discussed state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and France.

They, in particular, discussed bilateral cooperation between their countries in the fields of trade, environmental protection, and energy.

They also exchanged views on cooperation between Tajikistan and France in combating extremism and terrorism, the website said.

Both sides reportedly underlined the importance of organizing the high-level visits, with the aim of revealing new horizons of cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, France’s Foreign Ministry notes that Jean-Marc Ayrault on March 29 received at the Quai d’Orsay, his counterparts from the five Central Asian states to celebrate the establishment in 1992 of diplomatic relations with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

The discussions between the minister and his guests focused on the development of relations between France and each of them as well as cooperation on major international issues, starting with the fight against terrorism.  The meeting reportedly provided an opportunity to reaffirm France’s support for the modernization of Central Asia’s nations in all areas.  The strengthening of ties between the countries, notably in the areas of education and culture, was also included on the agenda.

On this occasion, Jean-Marc Ayrault reportedly also had bilateral meetings with his Kazakhstan counterpart, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, his Uzbek counterpart, Abdulaziz Kamilov, as well as with Azamat Usenov, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Muzaffar Huseinzoda, Tajikistan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vepa Hajiyev, Turkmenistan’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

An exhibition of archives retracing the development of diplomatic relations between France and Central Asia over the last 25 years was presented by Jean-Marc Ayrault to his interlocutors at the Quai d’Orsay.