Relations of the Republic of Tajikistan with the French Republic

Relations of the Republic of Tajikistan with the French Republic

Brief summary of bilateral relations.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the French Republic were established on March 3, 1992. The Embassy of the French Republic in Dushanbe was opened on November 3, 2001. The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Paris was opened in 2013.

The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Paris also functions (since April 2018) as the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Tajikistan to UNESCO.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to France is Mr. Jamoliddin Ubaidullo (since January 2018). Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to the Republic of Tajikistan is Mrs. Elsa Pignol (since October 2023).

France was one of the first countries, which recognized the state independence of Tajikistan in 1991. The Tajik-French relations are developing in political, economic, scientific, cultural and military fields.

The political, military-technical, trade-economic and scientific-cultural cooperation between the two countries developed particularly rapidly from 2002, that is, during the stay of the French air base at the Dushanbe international airport.

Among the mechanisms of bilateral relations between Tajikistan and France are interdepartmental political consultations of foreign ministries, mutual visits at the political level, visits of representatives of parliaments, defense ministries and law enforcement agencies of the two countries, business forums of Tajikistan and France, direct links between educational and research institutions, cultural events and partnership within the framework of international organizations.

Exchange of high-level visits

October 2005 - the working visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, to the Republic of France to participate in the work of the UNESCO General Conference. As part of the trip, the Day of Tajik culture was held in France with the participation of representatives of Tajik arts and crafts;

On November 7-12, 2019, the official visit of the Founder of National Peace and Unity - Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to the Republic of France took place, which included high-level meetings and negotiations between the Head of the Tajik State and the President of France Mr. Emmanuel Macron, a meeting with representatives of businesses and influential French investors, the meetings of the Leader of the Nation with the Director General of UNESCO Mrs. Audrey Azoulay, Prince Karim Agha Khan IV, as well as with representatives of the Tajik science, culture and art circles in France, and at the same time the President of the country at the Paris Forum on Peace Issues and at the meeting of the 40- participated and spoke at the 5th UNESCO General Conference on issues related to climate change. The visit of the head of state of Tajiks to Paris brought the relations between Tajikistan and France to a qualitatively new level. In total, 12 new documents of cooperation were signed within the framework of the visit. regulate business;

On October 12-14, 2021, the founder of national peace and unity - the leader of the nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, paid an official visit to Paris, the Republic of France, during which a grand ceremony of official welcome of the Head of the Tajik State was held at the French National Army Complex, level negotiations the President of the country with the President of France Mr. Emmanuel Macron and meetings with the Chairman of the French Senate Mr. Gerard Larchet, Director General of UNESCO Mrs. Audrey Azoulay, the Leader of the Nation together with the President of France Mr. E. Macron on October 13 visited the Exhibition of historical sights entitled "Tajikistan - the country of golden rivers" in the National Museum of Asian Art "Guime" in Paris officially opened on October 14 together with the Director General of UNESCO Ms. Audrey Azoulay, President of the Executive Council of UNESCO Mr. Agapito Mba Mokui, State Secretary of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs France, Mr. Jean-Baptiste Lemoine, and in the presence of the diplomatic delegation and the community of Tajiks living in Paris, officials and representatives of French government bodies at the opening ceremony of the Day of Culture of Tajikistan at UNESCO (including the exhibition of folk crafts and national costumes of Tajikistan and a magnificent festive concert event with large participation of art masters and talented youth of the country) participated and spoke on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan.

It is worth noting that mutual visits of ministers and heads of state institutions of Tajikistan and France are regularly held.

Inter-parliamentary ties. Inter-parliamentary ties between Tajikistan and France are well established. Deputies of the Majlisi namoyandagon and two chambers of the French Parliament in the course of meetings and mutual visits touch upon the development of the relations between the two countries. Groups of friendship and cooperation function between the parliaments of Tajikistan and France.

Legal-treaty base. 21 documents on bilateral cooperation have been signed between Tajikistan and France, which constitute the legal basis for the relations of the two states in foreign policy, trade, economic, investment, educational, cultural, scientific-technical, tourism fields, in the domain of air services, modernization of Dushanbe airport infrastructure, defense, internal security and other areas (enclosure). On March 16, 2022 a "Roadmap for the development of cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the French Republic for 2021-2026", has been signed by the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirodjidin Muhriddin.

Cooperation in the fields of science and culture. Tajikistan and France have established relations in the spheres of culture, science, technology and education on the basis of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the French Republic on cooperation in the cultural, scientific and technical fields (December 4, 2002).

The Exhibition of historical items of Tajikistan titled “Tajikistan - the Land of Golden Rivers” took place in the “Guimet” National Museum of Asian Arts in Paris from 13 October 2021 to 10 January 2022. The official inauguration ceremony of the Exhibition was held on 13 October 2021 with the participation of heads of two states – the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan His Excellency Mr. Emomali Rahmon and the President of the French Republic His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron. The President of the country His Excellency Mr. Emomali Rahmon introduced to his colleague Emmanuel Macron and his accompanying delegation the history and civilization of the noble Tajik people, contribution of its outstanding sons to the development of human civilization, historical sites, statehood of Tajiks in different centuries and antiquity of treasured land of Tajikistan.

On May 4, 2022, the French language learning center "Alliance Française" was established in Khujand.

Economic relations. The turnover of foreign trade with the Republic of France in January-September 2023 amounted to 11588.9 thousand US dollars.

Foreign direct investment of France in Tajikistan in 2007-2022 is 77.3 million dollars and the total amount of investment is 125 million dollars.

November, 2023