DUSHANBE, July 2, 2014, Asia-Plus -- On Tuesday July 1, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov met in London with British Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan.

The Tajik MFA information department says the two discussed a number of issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom and exchanged views on the implementation of the projects of the Department for International Development (DFID) in Tajikistan.

Tajik foreign minister reportedly expressed gratitude to DFID for implementation of regional projects and expressed hope for further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation.  

According to information posted on the UK Government’s website, the Minister of State for International Development represents DFID in the House of Commons.  The Minister currently leads on the following areas within DFID: Asia, Caribbean and Overseas Territories; Middle East and North Africa (excluding Syria and Libya); West and Central Asia (excluding Afghanistan and Pakistan); stabilization; the Conflict, Humanitarian and Security department (CHASE) (except the topic of violence against women and girls); international finance (except the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) - and supporting the Secretary of State on World Bank and private sector; international relations; trade; and corporate performance.