DUSHANBE, March 29, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- On Thursday March 28, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received visiting Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Minoru Kuichi.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the two considered issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and Japan.

Tajik president, in particular, noted that Tajikistan “is interested in further expansion of long-term and many-sided cooperation with Japan.”

Rahmon appreciated Japan’s support for socioeconomic development of Tajikistan.  The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) alone has provided 300 million U.S. dollars to Tajikistan in a form of grants and technical assistance.

The two also discussed the possibility of participation in implementation of regional projects aimed at supporting reconstruction of Afghanistan’s economy as well as a number of other regional issues being of mutual interest.

Mar. Minoru Kuichi arrived in Dushanbe to attend the 11th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) ministerial meeting.

A ceremony of signing of documents on providing no-strings aid to Tajikistan took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan on the same day.

Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan and Mr. Hiroyuki Imahashi, Ambassador, Japan’s Embassy in Dushanbe signed exchange notes on providing no-strings aid on the Project for Improvement of Equipment for Road Maintenance in Khatlon Province and Districts Subordinate to the Center and the Project for Improvement of Medical Equipment and Water Supply and Drainage Facilities for Maternal and Child Health Care Institutions, the Tajik MFA information department reports.

Hamrokhon Zarifi and Mr. Jiro Iida, Resident Representative, JICA Tajikistan signed two grant contracts on the abovementioned projects.