DUSHANBE, January 18, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- A new impulse will be given to further expansion of Tajikistan’s cooperation with the Arab countries this year, Tajik Foreign Minister announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 18.

According to him, Tajikistan will open its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia this year that will promote further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

“This year, Tajik specialists will be sent to work in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” said Zarifi, “they will take English and Arabic courses before traveling to these countries.”

He added that construction of Central Asia’s largest mosque in Dushanbe will start next month under financial support of Qatar.

On Tajikistan’s relations with other countries, Zarifi noted that Tajikistan has launched negotiations with authorities of South Korea on sending labor migrants to that country.  “We hope certain agreements will be reached in this direction,” he said.

Besides, the first meeting of representatives of business communities of Tajikistan and the United States will take place in Washington in February this year to discuss further expansion of bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries, Zarifi added.