DUSHANBE, September 18, Asia-Plus - On Friday September 15, a meeting of businessmen from Tajikistan and China was held in the building of Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI).

The meeting focused on state and prospects of further expansion of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.  A source in the CCI said China is among five main trading partners of Tajikistan.  According to him, during the meeting it was noted that a trade between Tajikistan and China will have exceeded US$200 million by the end of this year.  “At the same time, participants at the meeting noted that there is still considerable room for expansion of bilateral economic ties between the two countries,” the source said. 

Both sides underlined the possibility of expanding long-term cooperation through optimization of production cooperative societies, drumming up Chinese investments in enhancement of Tajikistan’s energy sector, complex processing of cotton and other agricultural output, development of natural resources in Tajikistan.  

According to Tajikistan’s CCI, compared to January-August of last year, trade between Tajikistan and China over the first eight months of 2006 has increased by 45 percent and amounted to US$85 million.  More than 10 enterprises launched with participation of China’s investments have to date operated in Tajikistan, primarily in the fields of telecommunications, transport and construction.