In a Thursday meeting with the Uzbek President, Islam Karimov, in Tajikistan’s capital city of Dushanbe, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran and Tashkent should tap into their “numerous economic potentials” in an effort to broaden bilateral ties.
Rouhani added that Uzbekistan, as a friendly country, enjoys a significant position in Iran’s foreign policy, and the ground should be prepared for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in line with the interests of both countries.
The Iranian president further highlighted the Islamic Republic’s geostrategic position in the region and described the country as a safe route for transit of goods to regional states, including Uzbekistan.
Karimov, in turn, expressed his country’s preparedness to strengthen economic relations with the Islamic Republic and welcomed an invitation by the Iranian president for an official visit to Tehran.
The Uzbek leader also proposed the formation of a joint committee to pursue the implementation of previous agreements reached between Tehran and Tashkent.
President Rouhani traveled to Tajikistan for a three-day visit on Wednesday to take part in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The SCO is an intergovernmental organization that was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran, along with four other countries, holds observer status in the organization.
