DUSHANBE, August 8, Asia-Plus  -- Sate and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and India were discussed at a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with Indian Deputy Foreign Minister, Nilekantan Ravvi, in Dushanbe on August 7.

According to presidential press service, President Rahmon stated that Tajikistan attaches great significance to its relations with India and highly appraised the present level of Tajik-Indian relations, which are continually developing and are an important factor of peace and stability in the region.  

“Tajikistan is making every effort to realize broad opportunities of cooperation with India,” the president said.  

In the course of the talks the two noted that cooperation between defense and law enforcement structures of the two countries is fruitful and aimed at strengthening interaction in the fight against terrorism.    

During the meeting it was noted that India’s grant assistance to modernization of the Varzob-1 power plant in Tajikistan is a striking example of expansion of cooperation between the two countries.

On the trade and economic cooperation between Tajikistan and India, the sides noted that a two-way trade between the two countries is expanding every year and in 2006, it valued at nearly 9.7 million somonis, which is 6.6 times more than in the previous year.  

At the same time, Rahmon and Ravvi noted that there is considerable room for expansion of economic ties.  Both sides vowed to boost bilateral trade.   

The two also considered issues related to expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and India in the fields of tourism, hydropower, pharmaceutics, food supplies and minerals. 

The sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues being of mutual interest.