As part of his official visit to France, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday met in Paris with Mr. Gerard Larcher, Speaker of the Senate (France's upper house of parliament).

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the parties discussed a broad range of issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and France, including inter-parliamentary collaboration between the two countries.  

Rahmon and Larcher reportedly expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation and pledged their commitment to further expansion of the bilateral cooperation.

Tajikistan's interest in learning from experience of France parliament was emphasized, the Tajik president’s official website says. 

The parties reportedly discussed further expansion of the bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and France in the fields of tourism and education.  

A special attention was given to the issues related to the current situation in Afghanistan, providing regional security and providing humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.  

The French Parliament is the bicameral legislature of the French Republic, consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly.  Each house has its own regulations and rules of procedure. However, occasionally they may meet as a single house known as the Congress of the French Parliament to revise and amend the Constitution of France.

The Senate, which is the upper house of the French Parliament, is made up of 348 senators elected by part of the country's local councilors (in indirect elections), as well as by representatives of French citizens living abroad.  Senators have six-year terms, with half of the seats up for election every three years.