Bilateral meeting with H.E. Kokhir Rasulzoda, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan

Dushanbe - FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, met today with H.E. Kokhir Rasulzoda, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, on the occasion of the 35th FAO Regional Conference for Europe and Central Asia hosted by Tajikistan. The Prime Minister welcomed the Director-General and expressed appreciation for FAO’s continued support to Tajikistan and its agricultural sector, particularly during challenging periods of development and reform. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of hosting the regional ministerial conference, noting that the Conference represented a significant milestone for the country and for regional cooperation on agriculture, food security and climate resilience.

The Director-General commended Tajikistan’s growing leadership in regional and global discussions on food security, glacier preservation and sustainable mountain development. He reaffirmed FAO’s readiness to continue supporting Tajikistan’s agricultural modernization agenda, including in the areas of digital agriculture, seed systems, climate-smart production, sustainable livestock development and regional investment initiatives.

The Director-General referred to the 2026 edition of the World Food Forum, to be held at FAO Headquarters in October 2026, noting it was an important global platform for engagement with the private sector. He also informed of the “Seeds to Foods” exhibition to be held on the margins of the Forum, which provided an opportunity for countries to showcase agricultural products and innovations. The Director-General provided the Prime Minister with an overview of FAO’s upcoming initiative on a Global Partnership Programme on Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD), aimed at strengthening international cooperation and preparedness through a new funding model for transboundary animal diseases.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Tajikistan’s commitment to deepening cooperation with FAO and noted the country’s appreciation for FAO’s support across a broad range of sectors. In response, the Director-General reaffirmed FAO’s continued support to Tajikistan in advancing sustainable agrifood systems transformation and strengthening regional cooperation.