DUSHANBE, October 20, 2010, Asia-Plus — Tajik-Iranian cooperation is expanding due to friendly relations between the presidents of the two countries and common historical and cultural roots of Tajik and Iranian two peoples, Shukurjon Zuhurov, Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), said here yesterday at a meeting with visiting Iranian parliamentary delegation, led by Hussein Hashimiyan, according to the Majlisi Namoyandagon press service.
Tajik speaker noted that Iran was strategic partner of Tajikistan and Tajik and Iranian MPs might bring bilateral cooperation between their countries to a higher level.
Zuhurov stressed that a good legal foundation had been laid for expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in all fields and some 150 Tajik-Iranian joint ventures now operated in Tajikistan due to that legal foundation.
Mr. Hashimiyan, for his part, expressed gratitude to Tajik speaker for cordial welcome and noted that Iranian MPs were looking forward to a return visit of their Tajik colleagues to Iran.
In the course of the talks, the sides also discussed issues related to regional security, energy projects and further expansion of inter-parliamentary cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran.
During their stay in Tajikistan, Iranian MPs will meet with members of the lower house of Tajik parliament and visit the Majlisi Namoyandagon committees and commissions.
Majlis-e Shoura-ye Eslami (the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran) is the national legislative body of Iran. Majlis-e Shoura-ye Eslami currently has 290 representatives, changed from the previous 270 seats since the February 18 2000 election. The current speaker of Iranian parliament is Ali Larijanii. The last elections to Iranian parliament were held on March 14, 2008.
