DUSHANBE, January 4, 2010, Asia-Plus – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran arrived in Dushanbe today morning on the first leg of his Central Asian tour, Iran''s IRNA reported today.

The president was welcomed at the airport by Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov as well as Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister, Hamrokhon Zarifi, and a number of other Tajik officials.

He was later officially welcomed by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.  Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, the two presidents started their private talks.  Later in the day, they are to sign a joint statement.

A number of agreements are expected to be signed during the talks of the Iranian and Tajik officials for bilateral cooperation in the fields of judicial, consular, mining, tourism and dam construction activities.

President Ahmadinejad is due to hold separate talks with the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) Speaker also Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev.

Later on Monday, he would also attend a press conference with Tajik and Iranian journalists before leaving Dushanbe for Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, which is the second destination of President Ahmadinejad’s two-nation tour to the Central Asia.

While in Turkmenistan President Ahmadinejad is to attend an inaugural ceremony of the gas pipeline project which would send natural gas from Turkmenistan to Iran.