1. On July 5, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan met with Tajik Foreign Minister Zarifi, who is visiting Korea on July 4-6 for the 6th ROK-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, to exchange views on ways to develop bilateral relations.

2. Noting that the relations between the ROK and Tajikistan have continuously strengthened since the opening of the ROK mission in Tajikistan in 2008, Foreign Minister Kim expected the signing of an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports between the two countries to contribute to boosting people-to-people exchanges between the ROK and Tajik governments. Minister Kim also proposed to work together to establish legal framework for improving bilateral economic and trade cooperation by signing the agreement on double taxation avoidance and the agreement on economy, science and technology as soon as possible, on which the two countries completed consultations.

3. Foreign Minister Zarifi expressed hope for further cooperation in a wide range of areas, including labor, agriculture, medicine, transport, logistics and resource development, and invited Minister Kim to visit Tajikistan to facilitate exchanges between senior officials of the two countries. Minister Zarifi also hoped that the ROK will provide more support for the development of human resources and water resources in Tajikistan by expanding KOICA’s programs.

4. Immediately after the ROK-Tajikistan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the two Ministers signed the ROK-Tajikistan agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports.


                             Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation