DUSHANBE, April 16, 2013, Asia-Plus – Visiting Indian Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari yesterday held talks here with Tajik Foreign minister Hamrokhon Zarifi.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, the sides discussed issues related to implementation of agreements that were signed during Tajik president’s state visit to India in September 2012.

Zarifi and Ansari reportedly discussed bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and India in sectors like energy, tourism, culture, education and information technologies.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation in the energy sector and noted that rehabilitation of VArzob-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) was a striking example of cooperation in the energy sector.

We will recall that the Indian public sectors, BHEL and NHPC, had undertaken the renovation of the two units of Varzob-1 HPPP with an upgraded capacity of 2x4.75 MW.  Both units have been successfully completed.

The sides reportedly underlined the significance of attraction of Indian investments for construction of hydroelectric power plants in Tajikistan.

The two also exchanged views on regional security especially with regard to Afghanistan.

The sides also noted that restoration of air communication between Tajikistan and India would facilitate further expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.