DUSHANBE, May 13, Asia-Plus  -- State and prospects of further expansion of bilateral between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan were discussed yesterday in Astana, Kazakhstan at a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with his Kazakh counterpart, President Nursultan Nazarbayev and enlarged negotiations with participation of delegations of the two countries, Tajik presidential press service said.  

The sides expressed satisfaction with the present level of political contacts at the highest level that pave the way for many-sided cooperation.  

President Nazarbayev highly appraised the level of bilateral relationships and named Tajikistan reliable political partner of his country and President Rahmon his friend and the friend of the Kazakh people.

They noted that agreements to establish the Interstate Coordination Council, the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Joint Investment Fund, and participation of Kazakhstan’s banks and investors in development of Tajikistan’s are evidence of that.  

During the meeting, it was noted that a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan has tripled over the past five years.   .

Nazarbayev charged members of the Kazakh government to study in details projects for construction of the railway Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan and 500-kilovolt power grid Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan, stressing that those projects are of benefit for all countries of South and Central Asia.  

Prospects of bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, metallurgy and use of energy resources were named encouraging.  

In the course of the talks, it was noted that the Kazakh side will take part in cleaning the reservoir powering the Qairoqqqum hydropower plant and modernization of that plant, which is of significant regional importance.  

Besides, a hydropower plant is expected to be built in the upper reaches of the Khingob River under financial support of Kazakhstan.  

During negotiations, it was also noted that cooperation of Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) with a number of Kazakh industrial enterprises will be expanding.  

Both sides confirmed their firm position on expansion of cooperation within the CIS, Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC), Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).  

Expansion of regional cooperation in Central Asia was named among main factors contributing to development of the countries of the region, presidential press service said.  

The presidents also exchanged on preparations for the upcoming SCO summit that will be held in Dushanbe in August.  

Official negotiations resulted in signing of eight bilateral cooperation documents: 

- A Joint Statement of the presidents;

- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of Tajik-Kazakh Interstate Council and the Council of Foreign Ministers of Tajikistan and Kazakhstan;

- A Program of economic cooperation between the two countries;

            - An Agreement on cooperation between Tajikistan’s Committee for Environmental Protection and Kazakhstan’s Ministry for Environmental Protection; 

            - A MoU on cooperation between the Civil Service Directorate under the President of Tajikistan and Kazakhstan’s Agency for Civil Service Affairs;

            - A MoU on cooperation between the Tajik Ministry of Energy and Industries and the Kazakh Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources;

            - A MoU on cooperation between the Tajik Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs and the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports;

            - An Agreement on the establishment of Kazakh-Tajik Fund for Direct Investments.  

            Speaking to reporters after a ceremony of signing of bilateral documents, the presidents expressed satisfaction with the negotiations results.    

Commenting on the necessity of establishing the organization that would unite economic opportunities of Central Asia’s states, President Rahmon noted that Tajikistan and Kazakhstan are supporters of sustainable development of many-sided relations in the region and ready for concrete   practical measures. 

President Nazarbayev stressed that Kazakhstan is ready to participate in implementation of energy projects in Tajikistan, including completing construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS), in any acceptable forms. 

He also noted that Kazakhstan will make its contribution to provision of Tajikistan with grains and fuels. 

Kazakh president also noted that his country has allotted Tajikistan a quota of 100 students this year.