DUSHANBE, July 11, 2013, Asia-Plus – On July 10, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi met in Canberra with Australian Trade Minister and Acting Foreign Minister Richard Marles, according to the Tajik MFA information department.
In the course of the talks, the sides exchanged views on expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Australia in sectors like energy, cola production, and agriculture (livestock farming).
Zarifi noted that Tajikistan was interested in establishment and expansion of close cooperation with Australia.
Zarifi and Marles also discussed a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest, including the current situation in Afghanistan.
Currently the Minister for Trade of Australia administers the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade jointly with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, although prior to 1987 there was a separate Department of Trade. Other trade-related bodies for which he is responsible are: Export Finance and Insurance Corporation and Trade Policy Advisory Council.
Diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and Australia were established in December 1991. Ms. Margaret Aileen Twomey is Ambassador of Australia to Tajikistan with residence in Moscow.
In 2012, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Australia amounted to 2.216 million U.S. dollars.
