DUSHANBE, August 2, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik Ambassador to Ukraine Shuhrat Sultonov met with former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma in Kiev at the end of last week, the Tajik MFA information department reports.

The sides reportedly discussed state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Ukraine in various fields.

In the course of the talks, Tajik diplomat appreciated Kuchma’s contribution to development of friendly ties between the two nations and underlined an important role of the Kuchma-led President’s Fund “Ukraina” in strengthening bilateral relations between Tajikistan and Ukraine, the source noted.

Leonid Kuchma (born August 9, 1938) was the second President of independent Ukraine from July 19, 1994, to January 23, 2005.  Kuchma took office after winning the 1994 presidential election against his rival, incumbent Leonid Kravchuk.  Kuchma won re-election for an additional 5-year term in 1999.

On the same day, Sultonov met with Nikolai Ivashchenko, chairman of the Union of Commodity Producers of Ukraine.

The Union reportedly groups more than 700 enterprises operating in various spheres of Ukraine’s economy.

The two considered issues related to expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and Ukraine in launching joint ventures for production of food products and processing of farm produce.

Sultonov and Ivashchenko also discussed a joint production of special machines for housing and communal service as well as establishment of a joint furniture manufacturing enterprise in Tajikistan.

The sides considered it expedient to submit the mentioned proposals for consideration to the upcoming 3rd session of Tajik-Ukrainian commission for trade and economic cooperation.