DUSHANBE, February 9, Asia-Plus — On February 8, Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov held talks with his Syrian counterpart, President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
According Abdufattoh Sharipov, a spokesman for the Tajik president, the talks focused on bilateral ties between Tajikistan and Syria and regional issues. Rahmonov noted that Tajikistan attaches important significance to expansion of cooperation with Syria The two declared for expansion of economic cooperation and outlined hydropower and infrastructure, light industry, tourism, and processing of precious stones and metals as priorities of economic cooperation between the two countries. Possibilities of setting up joint ventures in identified areas were also considered. The presidents also pointed to the necessity of expanding scientific and cultural ties between Tajikistan and Syria.
In the course of the talks the sides also exchanged views on a state and prospects of expansion of trade cooperation between the two countries. Both sides vowed to boost bilateral trade.
Rahmonov and Assad also discussed topical international and regional issues and expressed concern about the present situation in the Middle East. Rahmonov, in particular, said, “We are against use of force in settlement of the regional conflicts and come out for political ways of settlement of disputes in accordance with international norms.” During the meeting it was noted that Tajikistan and Syria have similar stances on the majority of issues that were discussed.
Sharipov said that Rahmonov and Assad signed a joint statement and presided over the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents between Tajikistan and Syria. The inked documents included government-to-government agreements between Tajikistan and Syria on cooperation in the field of culture, on economic and scientific-technical cooperation, on mutual protection of investments, on cooperation in the field of tourism, as well as memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the field of information and on bilateral consultations between MFAs of the two countries.
During his stay in Syria, Rahmonov is also scheduled to hold talks with chairmen of Syrian parliament and government and other high-ranking Syrian state officials.
The present state of trade between Tajikistan and Syria is at improper level and there is considerable room for expansion of economic ties. According to data of the State Committee for Statistics, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Syria last year amounted to $126,400, which is 12.7 percent fewer than in 2005.
