DUSHANBE, December 4, Asia-Plus  -- Mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran on rational use of water and energy resources was major topic of a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah that was held in Beppu, Japan on December 3.  

Abdufattoh Sharifzoda, a spokesman for the Tajik president, said that the two had expressed satisfaction with a good progress of construction of the Sangtud-2 hydropower plant in Tajikistan, which is funded by Iran.  

Rahmon and Fattah also exchanged views on plans of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two countries prospects.  

Iranian minister noted that motions introduced by President Rahmon at the First Asia-Pacific Summit were of important significance for the region and stressed that Iran would always support those important initiatives of Tajikistan.

As it had been reported earlier, Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah was on a working visit to Tajikistan last month.  Tajikistan and Iran signed an agreement on setting up a consultative bilateral agency to coordinate projects in the energy and other economic sectors.  The first priority of the agency is to design a feasibility study for implementation of new hydroelectricity projects, especially for the small Ayni and Shurob hydropower plants, as well as Chormaghzak tunnel.