DUSHANBE, February 21, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- A group of experts from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Transport and Communications are expected to arrive in Dushanbe in late February to discuss issues related to transportation cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

According to the Tajik Embassy in Bishkek, specialists from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Transport and Communications will discuss with Tajik colleagues a draft government-to-government agreement between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on international road traffic and a number of other issues being of mutual interest.

Tajik Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Olim Rahimov recently met in Bishkek with Kyrgyz Minister of Transport and Communications Kalybek Sultanov, who is also co-chairman of the Tajik-Kyrgyz intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation.

The sides reportedly discussed construction of regional rail links and highways connecting the two countries, including connection of the Osh-Batken-Isfana highway to the road leading to Khujand, the capital of the Tajik northern province of Sughd.

Rahimov and Sultanov also exchanged views on improvement of legal foundation for bilateral transportation cooperation and issues related to trade, energy, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the source said.

In 2012, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan amounted to more than 70 million U.S. dollars, which was two times more than in 2011.