DUSHANBE, December 5, Asia-Plus -- A broad range of issues related to economic and technological cooperation between Tajikistan and Japan was focus of a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda that was held in Tokyo Wednesday afternoon, presidential press service reported.    

President Rahmon highly appraised role of Japan in the world, noting that Tajikistan attaches significant importance to its cooperation with Japan as one of its important partners, Abdufattoh Sharifzoda, a spokesman for the Tajik president, reported from Tokyo.  

For his part, Prime Minister Fukuda noted that Tajikistan occupied an important place in promoting relations between Central and South Asia. 

Expressing satisfaction with a progress of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue, the sides confirmed readiness of their countries to continue cooperation in implementing investment projects being of socioeconomic importance for Tajikistan.  

In the course of the talks Rahmon and Fukuda also discussed issues related to rehabilitation of roads linking Tajikistan with Afghanistan, including the Dusti-Panj-Farkhor-Guliston section, as well as “internal free port”.  They also considered construction of blood testing center and rehabilitation of general schools in Tajikistan.  

Tajik president and Japanese PM also considered issues related to attraction of Japanese investments and technologies in Tajikistan’s economy, launch of joint ventures. 

Rahmon outlined sectors like light and food industries, production and processing of oil and natural gas, mining and hydropower as areas of which could drive the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Japan.

Emomali Rahmon invited Japanese Prime Minister to pay an official visit to Tajikistan.