DUSHANBE, February 6, Asia-Plus - A state and prospects of expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Egypt were discussed at the talks of President Emomali Rahmonov with his Egyptian counterpart, President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak, in Cairo yesterday.   

Abdufattoh Sharipov, a spokesman for the Tajik president, reported from Cairo that Rahmonov had noted that development of friendly relations with Egypt is one of the priorities of regional and international policy of Tajikistan.  

According to the spokesman, the two expressed satisfaction with the present level of political and cultural cooperation between Tajikistan and Egypt.  In the course of the talks the sides also exchanged views on a state and prospects of expansion of trade cooperation between the two countries.  Both sides vowed to boost bilateral trade, which currently did not correspondent to its real potential.       

The sides outlined trade, agriculture, light industry, tourism, and construction, , as areas of which could drive the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Egypt.  

Sharipov said that Hosni Mubarak had also seconded the proposal by Emomali Rahmonov about laying a legal foundation of bilateral cooperation, setting up a joint intergovernmental commission, as well as mutual opening of the embassies of the two countries.  

“The sides also underlined the importance of expansion of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as cooperation on addressing modern challenges and threats within international and regional organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), etc.,” Sharipov said.

The sides also expressed concern about the present situation in the Middle East and spoke for peaceful way of settlement of problems arising in the region.