Almotamar.net, Saba - President Ali Abdullah Saleh, along with the accompanying delegation, left on Friday Tajikistan after a two-day state visit. Upon departure, Saleh expressed his appreciation for the generous welcome and reception he received from the Tajik government and people, expressing hope the Yemeni-Tajik relations and cooperation expand further.

He was seen off by Tajik President Emomalii Rahmon and a number of Tajik senior officials.

The Republic of Yemen and Tajikistan have confirmed their keenness and joint desire for the development of and expansion their bilateral relations in various political, economic and cultural fields in the manner serving the interest of the two peoples.

That came in a joint communiqu� issued in the Tajik capital Dushanbe Friday at the conclusion of the two-day visit to Tajikistan by President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Tajik President Emomalii Rahmon affirmed on Friday the depth of the two countries' relations.

In a press conference, they showed concern to push mutual relations between the two nations towards wider horizons to translate ambitions of the two countries.

President Rahmon described his talks with President Saleh as fruitful and precious.

"We affirmed during the talks the new directions for cooperation and reinforcing relations between the two countries to strengthen results of my visit to Yemen end of 2008," Rahmon said.

He added, "We also confirmed to increase the level of cooperation between Yemen and Tajikistan in different fields," noting "that is why we signed some agreements either in the field of encouraging investment, cooperation in the health field or others."

He pointed out that his talks with President Saleh were in an atmosphere of understanding, highly valuing the results of Saleh's visit to Dushanbe.

For his part, President Saleh expressed happiness to visit Tajikistan and to meet President Rahmon and Tajik officials.

He said that "the visit of President Rahmon to Yemen was successful and opened the way for me to visit Tajikistan."

Saleh affirmed that the relations between Yemen and Tajikistan are historical and there is a real willingness between leaderships of both countries to establish a real partnership to serve both countries' peoples.

He made clear that his talks with President Rahmon dealt with a number of important issues at the regional and international level, coming on top the Arab-Israeli conflict and what happened to Gaza recently under the Israeli aggressive occupation.

"We in Yemen follow up with concern authorities procedures to the trial of Israeli war criminals who committed the brutal war on Gaza Strip people," Saleh said.

He noted that got acquainted during his visit to Tajikistan with the growing development under the wise leadership of President Rahmon. "We appreciate what President Rahmon has done for the sake of prosperity and progress of Tajikistan," Saleh said.

President Saleh expressed appreciation for the Tajik President, government and people for the welcome and hospitality he, and the accompanying delegation, received.

Saba