DUSHANBE, June 10, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- A program of an official visit of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to Luxembourg began on June 9.

Thursday morning, he met with His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg.  According to the presidential press service, Tajik leader noted that “European part of international community is one of priorities of Tajikistan’s foreign policy and Luxembourg has a special place in this part.”

In the course of the talks, the sides reportedly discussed issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and practical implementation of agreements that were reached between the two nations in 2004.

On the same day, Emomali Rahmon held meetings with Luxembourg Parliament President Laurant Mosar and Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker.  The sides discussed a broad range of issues of cooperation between the two countries.

A government-to-government agreement on avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, an agreement on air communication and a memorandum on air communication were signed in the presence of President Rahmon and Prime Minister Juncker, the source said.

A day before, Tajik president met in Luxembourg with representatives of public associations of ethnic Tajiks and Tajik nationals living in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.  Rahmon called on them to cooperate more actively with Tajikistan.       

Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe, bordering Belgium, France, and Germany.  Luxembourg has a population of over half a million people in an area of approximately 2,586 square kilometers.  A representative democracy with a constitutional monarch, it is ruled by a grand duke. It is the world''s only remaining sovereign grand duchy.  The country has a highly developed economy, with the world''s highest GDP (nominal) per capita according to the IMF.