Washington, DC - Today, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Desai Biswal, welcomed to Washington a delegation of Tajik government officials, led by Foreign Minister Aslov, for the fifth U.S-Tajikistan Annual Bilateral Consultations.

The Annual Bilateral Consultations, which were established in 2010, are a structured policy dialogue designed to build trust, advance a common agenda, and find opportunities for cooperation on bilateral and regional issues. Foreign Minister Aslov will also attend a lunch hosted by Counselor of the Department, Thomas A. Shannon, and will meet with Deputy Secretary Antony Blinken on June 17.

Discussions will focus on the human, security, economic, and political dimensions of the U.S.-Tajikistan relationship. Through the Annual Bilateral Consultations and other high-level dialogues, the United States looks forward to strengthening its relationship with Tajikistan, an important partner in a region of increasing global significance.