DUSHANBE, June 3, 2014, Asia-Plus – On Monday June 2, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received visiting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Ms. Nisha Desai Biswal.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the sides discussed further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States in the fields of politics, regional security, trade, investment, science and technologies.

A special attention was given to issues related to providing regional security, especially development of the situation in the region after withdrawal of international coalition forces from Afghanistan.

The U.S. Assistant Secretary Biswal reportedly appreciated Tajikistan’s support for strengthening of sociopolitical stability in Afghanistan.

Ms. Biswal underlined the U.S. readiness to support Tajik border troops and other agencies of Tajikistan in combating terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.

They also discussed expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in sectors like energy, agriculture, environmental protection, education, health care as well as ensuring of human rights and freedoms, the source said.

U.S. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal arrived for talks in Dushanbe on June 2.  Ms. Biswal is leading the U.S. delegation at the third session of the U.S.-Tajikistan Annual Bilateral Consultations, which are taking place here on June 2-3.

While in Dushanbe, Biswal is also expected to meet with civil society and youth representatives.

From Dushanbe, Biswal will travel to Beijing on June 4-6 to meet with Chinese officials.

Biswal will then travel on June 6-9 to New Delhi, where she will meet with officials in India''s new government to discuss bilateral and regional issues.