Abdulla Aripov meets Emomali Rahmon (video)

On February 17, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon received Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov in the capital, Dushanbe, the Tajik presidential press service reported.

According to the statement, a meeting of the Uzbekistan–Tajikistan Intergovernmental Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation was held. During the talks, the sides discussed the current state and prospects of friendly relations, cooperation, and partnership between the two countries.

It was noted that bilateral trade exceeded $504 million in 2025, and the parties reviewed the opportunities and resources available to further increase this figure. In this context, they focused on expanding cooperation in industry, agriculture, energy, including green energy production, and the development of a green economy.

The development of scientific, technical, cultural, and educational ties was also among the key topics of the meeting.

Earlier, Rahmon received Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kosherbayev in Dushanbe on February 16 after a two-week absence from public appearances.

It is worth noting that Rahmon’s two-week break from public appearances and absence from state television sparked various speculations and discussions. Some sources attributed it to a vacation or medical treatment abroad, though no official confirmation has been provided.

Rumors about the health of the 74-year-old president have circulated before, as he remains under constant public attention. According to some reports, Rahmon may have traveled to China for medical treatment during the two-week period, but this has not been officially confirmed.

On February 15, the presidential press service released a video message from Rahmon congratulating Chinese President Xi Jinping on the Chinese New Year. The three-minute address was published on the president’s official website, Telegram channel, and Facebook page.

In the message, Rahmon congratulated Xi Jinping on the Lunar New Year and expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations and cooperation within the framework of their strategic partnership. Typically, the presidential press service sends written congratulatory telegrams to foreign leaders, and video greetings are rarely used, suggesting a new approach toward China.

E’zoza Olimova