DUSHANBE, September 12, Asia-Plus -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday received Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who arrived in Dushanbe to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the sides discussed issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and India.

To-date, Tajikistan and India have signed more than 50 cooperation documents.

President Emomali Rahmon noted that though there was a good legal foundation of Tajik-Indian cooperation there was considerable for expansion of economic ties between the two countries.

The sides reportedly expressed hope for further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between their countries.  They referred to modernization of the Varzob-1 hydropower plant in Tajikistan as a good example of fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

It was noted that India could participate in construction of new hydropower facilities in Tajikistan.

They also noted that expansion of trade, energy and transportation cooperation between Tajikistan and India could promote solutions to Afghan problems.  

India acquired the observer status in the SCO in 2005 and since then it has constructively participated in all SCO summit meetings thus showing its strong willingness to be meaningfully associated with this regional grouping.

Sushma Swaraj (born February 14, 1952) is an Indian politician and the current Minister of External Affairs of India.  She is the second woman to be India''s external affairs minister, first being the late Indira Gandhi (August 22, 1967 to March 14, 1969).  She has been elected seven times as a Member of Parliament and three times as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.