DUSHANBE , March 17, Asia-Plus - On Friday March 17, President Rahmonov received visiting Cuban First Deputy Foreign Minister Emilio Caballero Rodriguez.

In the course of the talks the two discussed issues related to establishment of bilateral economic and trade cooperation between Tajikistan and Cuba .

“Relationships between Cuba and Tajikistan have a long history,” Mr. Emilio Caballero Rodriguez told journalists following his meeting with Emomali Rahmonov.  At present after Cuba has managed to resolve the most complicated problems and Tajik has reached political stability the question is of further expansion of cooperation between the two countries in all fields, the Cuban official noted. 

According to him, biotechnologies and pharmaceutics could be priorities and main directions of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.  “Our country produces medicines that are not produced in other countries,” said Emilio Caballero Rodriguez, “Besides, there are good opportunities of expanding cooperation in the field of tourism.”  He stressed that 2.30 million foreign tourists visited Cuba last year alone, “and this index annually increases by 8%-9%.” 

Speaking to journalists, he also said that a protocol on holding political consultations was singed with the Tajik MFA today.  

Dwelling on political stances of his country, Emilio Caballero Rodriguez noted that Cuba this year is assuming a three-year chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAN) made up of 114 developing countries and committed to representing the political, economic and cultural interests of the developing world.  “This year, we will hold the 14th session of the Movement and have invited a Tajik delegation to attend the session,” he said.         

The First Deputy Cuban Foreign Minister, Emilio Caballero Rodriguez, arrived in Tajikistan yesterday afternoon for a three-day working visit.  This visit is a part of his tour of the Central Asian states.