DUSHANBE, July 15, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon is currently in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt to attend the 15th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that is opening there today.

According to presidential press service, Rahmon who arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on July 13 held a number of meetings there yesterday.

Rahmon’s talks with Singapore’s Foreign Minister George Yeo focused on issues related to expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in sectors like hydropower engineering, mining, and agriculture.

During the meeting it was noted that laying legal foundation of cooperation was an important step towards development of relations between the two countries.  Signing of agreements on mutual protection of investments, avoidance of double taxation, as well as cooperation in the fields of economy, electronics and tourism was outlined as foundation of expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Singapore, the press service said.

The two also considered cooperation between the two countries within the Non-Aligned Movement and other international and regional organizations.

The same day, President Rahmon held talks with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.  The sides discussed the results of President Rahmon’s state visit to Indonesia in October 2003 and ways to expand bilateral cooperation between the two countries.   They, in particular, noted that setting up intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation would promote expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Indonesia.

Rahmon and Wirajuda also discussed a number of international and regional issues being of mutual interest as well as the current situation in Afghanistan.

The 15th NAM summit is expected to focus on diplomatic, economic, development and social issues.

It is the second time for Egypt, a founder of the movement, to hold the summit after 1964. The meeting, with the theme of "International Solidarity for Peace and Development," will be attended by about 60 heads of state and government.  In total, about 110 countries will be represented at the summit.

Senior officials and foreign ministers from the member countries will hold preparatory meetings to pave the way for the final documents of the summit.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is scheduled to take the rotating chair from Cuban leader Raul Castro during the summit.

The NAM leaders will listen to report by the chair of the 14th NAM Raul Castro and hold general debate on the current global economic and financial crisis.

The summit will adopt two main documents, namely the Final Document, which will outline the common position of the movement on various issues on its agenda, and the Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration, which would focus on the development of the group itself.

China’s Xinhua reports a "First Ladies Summit" will be held on the last two days, with a general debate on "The Role of Women in Crisis Management."

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is an international organization of states considering themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.  The movement is largely the brainchild of Gamal Abdul Nasser, former president of Egypt, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito.  It was founded in April 1955; it now has 119 members.  The purpose of the organization as stated in the Havana Declaration of 1979 is to ensure the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries" in their "struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemony as well as against great power and bloc politics.  They represent nearly two-thirds of the United Nations’ members and comprise 55 percent of the world population, particularly countries considered to be developing or part of the third world.

The last NAM summit was held in Havana, Cuba, on September 11-16, 2006, with the adoption of five documents urging solidarity among member countries to better respond to global threats and challenges.