DUSHANBE, April 22, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- On Friday April 22, President Emomali Rahmon received a delegation of French senators.  

The delegation members included five senators who are members of the France-Central Asia Friendship Group at the Senate of France.

The delegation, led by Senator Andre Dulait, who is chairman of the France-Central Asia Friendship Group, is in Tajikistan to discuss cooperation issues with high-ranking Tajik state officials.

According to the presidential press service, President Rahmon noted that Tajikistan was interested in expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation with countries of the European Union.

The Tajik leader, in particular, noted that the stages of “knowing each other” and “waiting for reciprocal step from each other” were already left behind and the relations entered a new phase of specific steps towards mutually beneficial cooperation.

President Rahmon reportedly expressed satisfaction with the level of bilateral political and military cooperation between Tajikistan and France.

In the course of the talks, the sides also discussed issues related to cooperation between the two countries in implementing regional energy, transportation and infrastructure development projects that could promote establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan, the source said.