Relations of Tajikistan with Malaysia

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and Malaysia were established on March 11, 1992.

On January 11, 2016, the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Malaysia was officially opened.

On July 10, 2019, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Ardasher Kodiri was appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tajikistan to Malaysia.

The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, has visited Malaysia twice: on October 15, 2003, for a working visit, and on July 22-25, 2014, for a state visit.

On October 15, 2003, President Emomali Rahmon traveled to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, to participate in the 10th session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). During this visit, the Trade Mission of Tajikistan was established in Malaysia with the participation of the Leader of the Nation, marking a new chapter in bilateral relations.

On June 22-25, 2014, President Emomali Rahmon paid a state visit to Malaysia, during which high-level meetings were held with the King of Malaysia, His Majesty Abdul Halim Mu’adzam, the then-Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad, and other senior officials. A total of nine cooperation agreements were signed during this visit, forming the legal framework for Tajikistan-Malaysia collaboration.

On May 19-20, 2010, an official delegation from Malaysia led by Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia, visited Dushanbe to attend the 37th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

From December 22-24, 2011, Professor Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, President of Limkokwing University, visited Dushanbe. During his visit, he met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Education, and the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan.

On September 8, 2014, Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato' Seri Anifah Haji Aman, visited Tajikistan to further strengthen relations and follow up on President Emomali Rahmon’s state visit to Malaysia. During his visit, he held fruitful meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of Tajikistan.

On September 13, 2019, the first bilateral consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan and Malaysia took place.

On February 5-7, 2020, Tajikistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, paid an official visit to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. During this visit, he held productive meetings with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Malaysian Parliament, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and representatives of the business community and private sector.

In 2014, the Government of Tajikistan and the Government of Malaysia signed an Agreement on Economic, Technical, and Scientific Cooperation. According to this agreement, both parties expressed their consent to establish an Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Economic, Technical, and Scientific Cooperation.

Trade and Economic Cooperation

The total trade turnover between the two countries in 2024 amounted to 2.976 million USD.

To develop trade relations between the two countries, on December 13, 2018, the first Tajikistan-Malaysia Business Forum was held in Kuala Lumpur, which made a significant contribution to expanding long-term economic cooperation. In 2024, an economic delegation from Tajikistan, led by the Chairman of the Committee on Investment and State Property Management, visited Malaysia for a working visit.

Parliamentary Diplomacy

Parliamentary diplomacy is recognized as an effective and reliable mechanism for strengthening bilateral relations. In this regard, on November 9, 2020, a virtual meeting was held between the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Tajikistan, Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda, and the Speaker of the Malaysian House of Representatives, Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun. The meeting covered a wide range of issues, including inter-parliamentary cooperation, economic and trade relations, political dialogue, and other important aspects of bilateral relations.

Education and Cultural Cooperation

In 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Higher Education was signed between the Governments of Tajikistan and Malaysia, as well as an MoU on Cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan and Limkokwing Creative Technology University.

In 2018, City University Malaysia provided 20 full scholarships to Tajik students. In 2022, the university signed an agreement with the Center for International Programs under the Ministry of Education of Tajikistan, under which 50 scholarships for the Foundation (preparatory) course were allocated.

In 2021, two Tajik students, and in 2022, 17 students received scholarships from Al-Bukhari University in Malaysia. The number of recipients is expected to increase in the coming years.

Under the Malaysia Technical Cooperation Program (MTCP), Malaysia offers various professional development courses for specialists from Tajikistan’s ministries and agencies. Since 2006, more than 90 specialists from Tajikistan have participated in training programs under this initiative.

Currently, based on a bilateral cooperation agreement, more than 100 Tajik students are studying in Malaysian universities.

Tourism Cooperation

Malaysia has accumulated extensive experience in the field of tourism. Developing mutually beneficial cooperation, creating and implementing tourism cluster programs, and exchanging experiences in this field will be beneficial for both sides. Establishing a direct air link between Dushanbe and Kuala Lumpur will further facilitate this process.

In December 2018, the first Tajikistan-Malaysia Tourism Forum was held in Malaysia. A draft cooperation agreement in the tourism sector is currently under review by the Malaysian side.

Sports Cooperation

In 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Sports was signed between Tajikistan and Malaysia.

02.03.2025