DUSHANBE, May 7, 2013, Asia-Plus – A delegation of the Tajik MFA, led by deputy Foreign Minister, Nizomiddin Zohidov, has been in Tehran since May 5 on invitation of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the Tajik MFA information department reported on May 7.

The delegation members are Ardasher Qodiri, head of the Department for Asian-African Affairs and Parviz Dodov, head of the Contracts and Legal Affairs Department.

On May 5, the delegation met with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.

The sides reportedly exchanged views on state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran.

They, in particular, pointed to the necessity of expanding economic cooperation between the two countries and speedy completion of joint infrastructure development and energy projects in Tajikistan.  

Meanwhile, Iranian news agency IRNA reports that Tajik deputy foreign minister appreciated Iran’s support for Tajikistan and voiced Tajikistan’s willingness to broaden economic cooperation.  Iranian companies have an opportunity to invest in Tajik development projects, Zohidov was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Tajik delegation also conducted negotiations with an Iranian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Behrouz Kamalvandi, the Tajik MFA information department reports.

Improvement of conditions for functioning of diplomatic missions of the two countries was a major topic of the meeting.  The sides reportedly came to an agreement to sign an appropriate government-to-government agreement on this subject in the near future.

Tajik delegation also held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Arakchi.  According to the Tajik MFA information department, the sides discussed issues related to implementation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan that was signed in Dushanbe on March 25, 2012.

The Iranian side offered to convene the first meeting of the Joint Trilateral Commission in Tehran in early June this year.  The Tajik side seconded the proposal.

While in Tehran, Tajik delegation also met with Alireza Daimi, Deputy Minister of Energy of Iran.  The sides reportedly discussed issues related to completion of construction of the Istiqlol Tunnel and the Sangtuda-2 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in Tajikistan.

The sides agreed that Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Alireza Daimi will visit Tajikistan in late May to continue discussions and make appropriate decisions.

In a report released at a conference dedicated to the 40th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Islamic Revival Party (IRP) in Dushanbe, Iranian Ambassador to Tajikistan Ali Asghar Sherdoust noted on April 27 that Iran is currently implementing over 163 contracts with 150 Iranian companies involved in executive works in Tajikistan.  According to him, more than 163 cooperation deals in various areas have already been signed between Iran and Tajikistan and over 150 Iranian companies are busy implementing the projects in Tajikistan, indicating cordial ties between the two nations.