DUSHANBE, March 14, Asia-Plus  - On Thursday March 13, President Emomali Rahmon held meetings with his Iranian, Afghan and Turkish counterparts in Dakar, Senegal, where he has attended the 11th summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), presidential press service said.   

His talks with Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad focused on Iran-sponsored projects being implemented in Tajikistan.

President Ahmadinejad noted that he was controlling a progress of implementation of the Sangtuda-2 hydroelectricity project and preparations for construction of Shurob hydropower plant in Tajikistan as well as construction of power grid and automotive road and railway from Tajikistan via Afghanistan to Iran.

The two also considered issues related to launch of joint ventures in the country and completion of the construction of the Anzob tunnel.      

President Rahmon proposed to hold the first bilateral meeting on economy and investment issues in Dushanbe.

Both sides pointed to the necessity of working Tajik-Iranian economic cooperation program for 2009-2015 and holding tripartite meeting of heads of Persian-speaking states, establishing Tajik-Iranian economic council with participation Afghanistan, and implementing strategic projects aimed at construction of the power grid and the automotive road and railway.     

President Rahmon expressed satisfaction with a level of cooperation with Iran, “which is one of strategic partners of Tajikistan.”  He stressed that Tajikistan supports Iran’s intention to become full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). 

            Economic cooperation was one of major topics of the meeting of Emomali Rahmon with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

During the meeting, it was noted that trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan has been increasing and amounted to $39.12 million last year, which is 55 percent more than in 2006. 

Highly appraising a role of the bridge “Dousti” (Friendship) across the Panj River, President Rahmon noted that creation of free economic zone (FEZ) in Nizhny Panj, Khatlon province would be promote further expansion of bilateral trade between the two countries.  

The two also outlined intensification of activities of the Tajik-Afghan interstate council and commission for trade and economic cooperation as a topical task. 

Rahmon and Karzai underlined the importance of establishment of the Tajik-Iranian economic council with participation of Afghanistan and launch of joint TV channel for Persian-speaking states.    

The same day, President Rahmon held talks with his Turkish counterpart, President Abdullah Gul.

During the meeting, it was noted that Turkey tops the OIC member nations in terms of the volume of bilateral trade with Tajikistan.  In 2007, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Turkey amounted to $550.505 million. 

Both sides vowed to boost bilateral trade pointed to the necessity of intensifying activities of the intergovernmental economic commission and the council of businesspeople of the two countries.