DUSHANBE, April 14, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- On Tuesday April 13, Mr. Shukurjon Zuhurov, Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) met with Mr. Daniel Bertrand, Belgian Ambassador to Tajikistan.

Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, said the sides had discussed the state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Belgium.

Tajik speaker, in particular, noted that Tajikistan was interested in establishing close cooperation with Belgium in constructing small hydropower plants and fruit processing enterprises in Tajikistan.

To reach full independence Tajikistan needs to gain, first of all, energy, transportation and food independence because development of its economy and improvement of living standards of the population depend on these three directions, Tajik speaker stressed.

“With that end in view, Tajikistan has begun to complete the construction of the Roghun HPP and build bridges and highways connecting it to China, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan,” noted Zuhurov, “Tajikistan is lacking substantial energy resources, and therefore, to gain the energy independence we must develop the hydropower sector and construct the Roghun HPP.”

He also noted that freight cars bound for Tajikistan were unfoundedly being held on Uzbek territory.  In mid-March, Uzbekistan closed its railroads for the southern part of Tajikistan, “which is currently in an economic isolation,” Tajik speaker said.

The two also discussed the latest developments in Afghanistan and some other regional issues being of mutual interest, Sultonov said.