Minister of Foreign Affairs Tata: Indonesia Views Tajikistan as an Important Partner to Strengthen Connectivity and Cooperation

Wamenlu Tata with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kalandar (source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Indonesia considers Tajikistan as an important partner in strengthening connectivity and cross-regional cooperation, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Arrmanatha Nasir.

This was conveyed by the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with the bilateral consultation meeting between Indonesia and Tajikistan with his counterpart, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Idibek Kalandar in Dushanbe on Wednesday.

In the warm and productive meeting, Indonesia and Tajikistan agreed to strengthen partnership and expand bilateral cooperation in various priority sectors.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to encourage more concrete and impactful cooperation for the people of both countries.

There is also a plan to prepare a roadmap for bilateral cooperation as a guide for strengthening long-term relations that are more targeted, inclusive, and results-oriented.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kalandar when welcoming the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tata. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RI)

Furthermore, Indonesia encourages the strengthening of ASEAN and Central Asian cooperation. In this context, Indonesia expects the strengthening of Tajikistan's interaction and collaboration with ASEAN, including by joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and the possibility of Tajikistan opening an Embassy and Permanent Representative for ASEAN in Jakarta.

"Indonesia considers Tajikistan as an important partner in strengthening connectivity and cross-regional cooperation between ASEAN and Central Asia, in line with the increasing geopolitical dynamics and the need for more inclusive global collaboration," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as quoted from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Friday (29/5).

In this consultation, both parties also discussed opportunities for cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, downstream industries, and digital transformation that support sustainable development.

In the social and cultural field, both countries also agreed to strengthen people-to-people relations, including through tourism, educational cooperation, and cultural exchange.

As a concrete result of the meeting, the two Deputy Foreign Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of a Bilateral Consultative Committee which opened a new chapter in bilateral relations between Tajikistan and Indonesia, as well as a foundation for strengthening bilateral consultations in the future.

Apart from bilateral issues, Indonesia and Tajikistan exchanged views on the development of geopolitical and regional situations, and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other in various international forums.

After the bilateral consultation meeting, the Indonesian delegation also visited the Dangara free economic zone, about two hours from the capital Dushanbe, to explore opportunities for trade and investment cooperation in Tajikistan.

This series of visits to Tajikistan once again confirms Indonesia's commitment to expanding strategic partnerships with Central Asian countries as well as strengthening Indonesia's role as a bridge for inclusive and future-oriented cooperation between regions.