TEHRAN – Ambassador of Tajikistan to Iran Nizamuddin Zahedi stressed the need to establish a joint scientific committee between the two countries.
Referring to the growing relations between Iran and Tajikistan in recent years, Zahedi said that cooperation efforts in the field of education can be further expanded through the resumption of scholarships to attract more Tajik students and the establishment of a joint scientific committee to hold regular meetings and come up with solutions that benefit from the optimal capabilities of both countries, IRNA reported.
Tajik officials made the remarks Tuesday during a meeting with Saeed Habiba, head of the Student Affairs Organization.
He also proposed exchanging students to improve the quality of education and encourage Tajiks to learn Farsi.
Mr. Zahedi highlighted Iran’s high educational capabilities and expressed Tajikistan’s interest in promoting scientific ties with Iran and attracting Iranian students in various fields.
Highlighting the cultural, linguistic and historical similarities between Iran and Tajikistan, Habiba said science diplomacy is the most effective means of promoting scientific cooperation with Tajikistan.
The official highlighted Tajikistan’s achievements in science and technology, especially in nanotechnology and biotechnology, and noted that Tajikistan’s universities can directly cooperate with top Iranian universities in various fields.
Habiba went on to say that Iran plans to attract 320,000 foreign students and provide scholarships to Tajik students.
strategic priorities
In June, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that Iran considers cooperation with Tajikistan a strategic priority and emphasized Iran’s commitment to expanding ties with Dushanbe.
Araghchi made the remarks on July 30 during a meeting with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon at the State Palace in Dushanbe.
He pointed out that the common language, culture and historical ties between the two countries are a solid foundation for deepening cooperation in key areas such as trade, diplomacy, education and cultural exchanges.
During the meeting, Iranian diplomats conveyed the official greetings of Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to the president and people of Tajikistan.
President Rahmon welcomed the visit and echoed the sentiments, saying that relations between Iran and Tajikistan are rooted in centuries of friendship and mutual respect. He called for further efforts to foster cooperation in light of current regional challenges.
The two sides discussed the current status of bilateral relations and exchanged views on expanding cooperation. The two leaders also reviewed regional developments, including the changing situation in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Afghanistan and West Asia, and shared their views on mutual security concerns.
In addition, Mr. Araghchi met with his Tajikistani counterpart, Mr. Shiroziddin Muhriddin, and focused on a comprehensive agenda aimed at promoting cooperation in politics, economy, commerce, academics, tourism, and consular affairs.
Minister Muhriddin emphasized the importance of economic and trade cooperation and reaffirmed Tajikistan’s desire to strengthen relations with Iran. He welcomed the shared political will of the two countries’ leaders to deepen engagement in all areas.
Iran and Tajikistan share deep cultural, linguistic and historical ties. In recent years, the two countries have significantly invigorated bilateral cooperation across various fields. For example, on June 13, 2022, officials from Tajikistan and Iran held a tourism forum to strengthen tourism cooperation between the two countries.
MT/MG