DUSHANBE, March 13, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon met with his Pakistani counterpart, President Asef Ali Zardari, in Tehran on sidelines of the 10th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) that was held there on March 11, according to presidential press service.

The two discussed a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan.  They, in particular, noted that expansion of activity of a joint commission for trade and economic cooperation and visit of Pakistan’s president to Tajikistan would give a new impulse to further expansion of cooperation between the two friendly countries.

The presidents agreed that the sides should use more efficiently existing potentials for expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries, including construction of hydropower plants and power grids from Tajikistan to Pakistan.

They outlined reopening of air communication between Tajikistan and Pakistan and sectors like industry, mining, culture and tourism as areas that could drive the bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan, the press service said.

In the course of the talks, Rahmon and Zardari also touched upon regional and international issues being of mutual interest, including the present situation in Afghanistan and joint efforts to address modern challenges and threats.