DUSAHNBE, September 15 — Trade and economic cooperation between Tajikistan and China is the aim of the third session of Tajik-Chinese commission for trade and economic cooperation that opened in Dushanbe today morning.
According to information from the Ministry of Economy and Trade, six issues have been put on the session’s agenda. Among them promising directions of cooperation between the two countries in developing non-ferrous metallurgy (production and processing of aluminum), mining, chemical industry, energy and irrigation, as well as development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Tajikistan.
A source in the Ministry of Economy and Trade said participants at the meeting are also scheduled to discuss rehabilitation of Varzob, Golovnaya and Qairoqqum hydroelectric power stations and construction of small power plants in Tajikistan with participation of China’s investments.
The meeting is also aiming to consider issues related to Tajikistan’s joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). The session is expected to result in signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the governments of Tajikistan and China on conditions of admittance of Tajikistan to the WTO.
According Tajikistan’s State Committee for Statistics, compared to January-July of last year, trade between Tajikistan and China over the first seven months of 2006 has increased by 44 percent and amounted to US$74.758 million. Tajikistan’s exports to China were estimated at US$5,430,600; imports from China were worth US$69,237,400.
