Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who is on a goodwill visit to Tajikistan, would discuss militancy stemming from Pakistan and Afghanistan and ways to boost bilateral trade with the resource-rich central Asian country.
Ansari, who arrived in Dushanbe on Sunday, told reporters here that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen socio-economic and cultural ties with Tajikistan.
“Well, we are improving. The purpose of this visit is to strengthen the relationship which is already strong and add new dimensions to it,” said Ansari.
During his visit, Ansari will meet the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and the Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Oqil Oqilov.
Ansari will visit Khatlon Province of Tajikistan and meet with its Governor on Tuesday. He will also visit the Tajik Technical University during his stay in Dushanbe.
Ansari is accompanied by a high level delegation comprising Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Tariq Anwar and four Members of Parliament.
Relations between India and Tajikistan have traditionally been cordial and close. During the last state visit of the President of Tajikistan to India in 2012, both countries elevated their bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership.
India and Tajikistan have had regular high level exchanges and significant progress has taken place in strengthening cooperation in strategic areas and in development partnership between both the countries.
India and Tajikistan continue to work together for peace, prosperity and security in our common neighbourhood and Tajikistan is one of India”s close partners in the international arena. (ANI)