Relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Saudi Arabia

Relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Saudi Arabia

On January 11, 1992, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recognized the independence of the Republic of Tajikistan. On February 22, 1992, diplomatic relations were established between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Riyadh was opened in September 2008. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Dushanbe was opened in 2010.

Currently, Mr. Akram Karimi (31.08.2020) is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Mr. Waleed Abdulrahman Alreshaidan (01.07.2021) is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Tajikistan.

The Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon has paid five official and working visits (1997, 2001, 2005, 2016 and 2017) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which play a key and influential role in the development of bilateral relations. During these visits the President of the Republic of Tajikistan met with the King and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, as well as other high-ranking officials of that country.

Regarding high-level political contacts, it is worth mentioning the official visit of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Prince Saud Al-Faisal to Tajikistan in 1992, the visit of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hamrokhon Zarifi to Riyadh in 2007, the official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin to Saudi Arabia in 2014 and the visit of former Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Azim Ibrahim to Riyadh (January 25, 2015) and the visit of the Prosecutor General of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Tajikistan in December 2022 and the visit of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia in August 2022.

Inter-parliamentary cooperation between Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia is one of the important tools of bilateral relations. On this basis, on May 24-26, 2016, the Chairman of the Majlisi Shura of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Ali Sheikh paid an official visit to the Republic of Tajikistan. The return visit of the former Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia was held on January 21, 2017.

The establishment of a Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation is a particularly important in process of expanding cooperation. The first meeting of the Commission was held on August 28-29, 2013 in Dushanbe. The Business Council was established as a coordinating tool for private sector cooperation between the two countries. Also, on April 1-4, 2018, the second session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia was held in Riyadh and in its framework two business forums were held in Riyadh and Jeddah. On December 23-24, 2022, the third meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission of the Republic of Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia was held in Dushanbe. As a result, the Protocol of the meeting and Agreement on avoidance of double taxation were signed.

The Republic of Tajikistan has established fruitful cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank and the Saudi Fund for Development in the areas of health and education, road infrastructure, energy, agriculture and others.

Cultural, humanitarian and educational ties are an important factor in strengthening cooperation. On May 5-9, 2018 Cultural Days of Saudi Arabia were held in Tajikistan.

The official visit of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Saudi Arabia Prince Abdulaziz ibn Saud to Tajikistan in November 2018 and his meetings with the Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon and other high-ranking officials is an important factor in further cooperation between law enforcement agencies of both sides.

In the framework of the Agreement on Cooperation in the Fight against Crime and other multilateral international instruments, the two countries have established cooperation and coordination in the field of security and the fight against terrorism, extremism and other undesirable phenomena.

November, 2023