DUSHANBE, November 13, 2014, Asia-Plus – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday met here with Mr. Kentaro Sonoura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.

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 Japan.

In the course of the talks, Rahmon reportedly highly appraised the current level of relations between the two countries and stressed that Tajikistan is interested in further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation with Japan.

Tajik president especially appreciated Japan’s support for socioeconomic development of Tajikistan.  He noted that Japan has supported implementation of more than 300 social projects in Tajikistan over past twenty years.

Rahmon and Sonoura also discussed cooperation in enhancing educational, scientific and health sectors in Tajikistan.

They expressed confidence that trade and economic cooperation between the two countries will expand as well, the source said.

Kentaro Sonoura (born June 3, 1972) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Takamatsu, Kagawa and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected for the first time in the 2005 general election.