DUSHANBE, November 27, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon leading a high-ranking delegation today morning left fro Tehran for a working visit, according to presidential press service.

The visit takes place upon invitation extended to Emomali Rahmon by his Iranian counterpart, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

During his two-day stay in Iran, Rahmon is scheduled to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and a number of other high-ranking Iranian state officials to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two countries as well as international and regional issues, including the latest developments in Central Asia and Afghanistan.

Economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran, in particular in the field of energy, are supposed to be a major topic of the talks.

According to Iran’s news agency IRNA, President Rahmon will hold talks with President Ahmadinejad, Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Mostafa Najjar, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Energy Minister Parviz Fattah on expansion of ties between the two countries.

A number of top Tajik officials, including the ministers of foreign affairs, energy and industries are accompanying President Rahmon on this visit, IRNA said.

It is the second visit of the Tajik president to Iran this year.  We will recall that Rahmon was on the official visit to Iran this year on February 9-10.  In February, Tajikistan and Iran signed three agreements on energy, petrochemical and transport cooperation.  The power agreement was signed by the Iranian and Tajik energy ministers.  The two countries also signed a letter of understanding on setting up a joint chemical company and also making joint investment in supplying mechanical equipment for loading and unloading alumina powder shipment at Shahid Rajaei port.  The presidents signed the letter of understanding on cooperation and a joint statement to that effect.