DUSHANBE, June 4, Asia-Plus -- On Friday June 1, President Emomali Rahmon received Juan Miranda, the Director General of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Central and West Asia Department.

According to presidential press service, in the course of the talks Rahmon and Miranda discussed state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the ADB.  They discussed a progress of ADB’s assistance program in the country, which focuses on strengthening rural development, social sectors, and regional cooperation, and rehabilitating basic infrastructure.  The two highly appraised paces of socioeconomic development of Tajikistan over past years. 

Rahmom expressed gratitude to the ADB administration for supporting socioeconomic policy of Tajikistan and funding a series of projects to enhance transportation, energy, education, health, financial, and agrarian sectors in Tajikistan.   

Mr. Miranda headed the ADB’s delegation at the Tajikistan Development Forum, which was held in Dushanbe on June 2.  

The same day, Emomali Rahmon met with Ms. Annette Dixon, the World Bank Country Director for five countries of Central Asia, and Mr. Michele Mardizini (phonetically spelled), acting WB Director, presidential press service said.   

 In the course of the talks, the sides vowed to boost cooperation between Tajikistan and the World Bank.  According to presidential press service, Dixon and Mardizini noted that they will take efforts to give new impulse to further development of relations between the World Bank and Tajikistan.

The sides identified the creation of energy market in Central and South Asia as being of strategic importance for further expansion of regional cooperation, presidential press service said.