DUSHANBE, March 16, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon met with his Turkish counterpart, President Abdullah Gul, in Ankara, Turkey on March 15.

According to presidential press service, state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkey in different fields were a major topic of the talks.  The sides also discussed the agenda of the 5th World Water Forum that is opening in Istanbul today.  Emomali Rahmon invited Abdullah Gul to pay visit to Tajikistan.

The president expressed satisfaction with present level of economic cooperation between their countries.  They, in particular, noted that there was considerable room for expansion of economic ties and vowed to boost bilateral trade, the press service said.

The sides also considered a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest and noted that Tajikistan and Turkey had similar stances on many issues.

The same day, President Rahmon met with Turkish Prime Minister Receb Tayyip Erdogan.  During the meeting, Erdogan highly appraised Rahmon’s initiatives on seeking solution to problems connected with fresh water.