DUSHANBE, May 4, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Chairman of the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs Maliksho Nematov is attending the second Asian sports ministers’ meeting that kicked off in Tehran today, according to the youth committee press service.

Some 28 countries have voiced their willingness to participate at the meeting that has been hosted at Esteqlal Hotel in Tehran.

Representatives from Japan, Syria, China, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Cambodia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Qatar, South Korea, China Taipei, India, Brunei, Lebanon, Tajikistan, The Philippines, Singapore, Nepal, Jordan, Oman, Cyprus, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are participating in the three-day event, which is dedicated to discuss issues related to effects of the global financial crisis on development of sports.

The first edition of the meeting was held in Japan in 2007.

During his stay in Tehran, Nematov is also scheduled to hold talks with Iran’s Vice President also Sports Minister and Iran’s Olympic Committee President Ali Abadi, the press service said.

The sides are expected to consider issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran in the field of sports and signing of an agreement between Tajikistan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) and Iran’s Olympic Committee on cooperation in development the Olympic Movement for the period of 2009-2012.  The agreement is supposed to provide for the provision of assistance by Iran with training of Tajik athletes at Olympic centers in Iran as well as the holding of joint tem practice sessions, the source said.