DUSHANBE, December 15, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan intends to lease 350 rail cars from Iran, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC).

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on this subject was singed between the transport ministries of Tajikistan and Iran in Tehran late November during President Emomali Rahmon’s visit to Iran.  Under this rail car leasing document, Iran’s railways company is ready to provide 350 rail cars to Tajikistan on lease basis, the source at a MoTC said.  The sides also agreed to organize training courses for Tajik railroaders in Iran.

We will recall that the last visit of President Rahmon visit to Iran ended with signing of a joint statement of the state leaders and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Tajik ministry of transport and communications and the Iranian ministry of roads and transportation.

Both sides agreed to hold a tripartite (Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran) meeting and five-sided session with participation of representatives of Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan, China and Kyrgyzstan on construction of railway from Iran to China via Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan as well as on joint development of water-and-energy resources in central Asia.

The session on construction of railway from Iran to China via Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is expected to be held in the first quarter of 2009, the source said.