DUSHANBE, July 23, Asia-Plus – IRNA – On Friday July 20, Tajikistan and Iran signed in Dushanbe a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on expansion of scientific and research cooperation and exchange of university students and professors.

The MoU was signed by Tajik Minister of Education Abdujbbor Rahmonov and Iran''s Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mohammad-Mehdi Zahedi.

According to the 15-Article MoU, the two sides pledged to prepare ground for participation of Iranian and Tajik researchers in scientific conferences.

Iran expressed readiness to give scholarship to 100 Tajik university students for the current and next academic years.

The Tajik side also agreed to accept Iranian students.

After signing the MoU, Zahedi said the agreement would pave the way for further promotion of scientific and educational relations between the two countries.

He voiced Tehran''s readiness to transfer its scientific and educational experiences to Tajikistan.

He expressed hope the MoU would lead to exchange of views in different areas of science, culture, and education between Tehran and Dushanbe.

Rahmonov, for his part, said the MoU was an important step towards bolstering scientific and educational cooperation between the two friend countries.

 He praised Iran''s assistance to his country in the fields of education, science and technology announcing that 400 Tajik students are currently studying in Iranian universities.

Zahedi arrived in Dushanbe Thursday on an official three-day visit at the head of a delegation.