Joint Declaration by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan

Joint Declaration by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan

The 4th of August 2022 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Portuguese Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan. Throughout these three decades, our countries have sought to develop their relations, based on the friendship that unites our societies.

Portugal and Tajikistan see 2022 as a year of recovery from the pandemic, when political, diplomatic and economic contacts return to normal. These restrictions did not halt the holding of the 9th EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Council in 2021 (via videoconference), co-chaired by the Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs.

High-level physical contacts were re-established in June 2022, with Tajikistan's participation at the United Nations Oceans Conference, in Lisbon. Our countries agreed to prioritise cooperation in water management and tourism.

Taking good note of the Second High-Level Conference on International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development" 2018-2028, entitled "Catalyzing water action and partnership at the local, national, regional and global levels" (Dushanbe, 6-9 June 2022) and Portugal and Kenya's co-hosting of the United Nations Oceans Conference, the Parties hold great expectations for Tajikistan and the Netherlands' co-hosting of the UN 2023 Water Conference (New York, 22-24 March 2023).

Cooperation and friendship between Portugal and Tajikistan are not limited to the bilateral level. Our two countries garner a vast history of mutual support in international organisations, with the United Nations at its core, including mutual support to candidacies to the UN Security Council.

We also carry out an important work as Participating States at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, based on the principles of inclusiveness and consensus, whilst working towards stability, peace and democracy.

Both countries call for a global agenda based on these values, a stance that will continue to be defended, given the present Eurasian context.

The special occasion that we commemorate today represents not only a reason to celebrate, but a valuable moment to show our mutual commitment in broadening and deepening our bilateral agenda, in the political, economic, and cultural domains, for the benefit of our peoples and the prosperity of our countries.