DUSHANBE, December 13, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- State and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) were the focus of a meeting of Tajik Deputy Foreign Minister, Nizomiddin Zohidov, with Korean Ambassador to Tajikistan Jon De-wang (phonetically spelled), the Tajik MFA information department reported on December 12.

The sides, in particular, considered issues related to further formation of the legal foundation of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the Republic of Korea as well as expansion of economic, cultural as well as scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.

In the course of the talks, the sides also exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues being of mutual interest, the source said.

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) was established in 1991 by the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to enhance the effectiveness of Korea''s grant aid programs for developing countries by implementing the government''s grant aid.

Diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and the Republic of Korea were established on April 27, 1992.

According to information posted on the website of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Korea in 2010 valued at 134 million U.S. dollars.  This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Korea (cotton aluminum) estimated at US$102 million and Tajikistan’s imports from Korea (machineries, textiles) worth US$32 million.