DUSHANBE, February 12, 2009, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan and Lithuania have agreed to set up an intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation, according to presidential press service.
Such a decision was made today at a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with his Lithuanian counterpart, President Valdas Adamkus, in Vilnius, Lithuania.
In the course of the talks, the sides exchanged views on state and prospects of expansion of trade cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, it was noted that trade between Tajikistan and Lithuania in 2008 valued at little more 110 million US dollars. Both sides vowed to boost bilateral trade, which currently did not correspondent to its real potential.
During the enlarged negotiations, the government delegations of the two countries outlined sectors like processing of farm produce, production of building materials, furniture and home appliance, mining, energy and transit transportation as areas that could drive the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Lithuania, the press service said.
The sides reached an agreement that Tajikistan would use sea ports of Lithuania and Latvia for transit of its cargo and goods and Lithuania would use Tajikistan’s transit roads to countries of Central and Southern Asia.
They also underlined the necessity of expanding scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries. In this connection, relevant ministries and departments were charged to take measures to create necessary conditions for direct contacts between scientific and cultural facilities of Tajikistan and Lithuania.
The sides also pointed to the necessity of expanding cooperation between the two countries within the frameworks of international organizations and combining efforts to provide support for establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The negotiations ended with signing of the declaration on expansion of friendly relations and cooperation and the agreement on encouragement and mutual protection of investments.
