DUSHANBE, July 28, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Issues related to expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan and regional cooperation were a major topic of the meeting of Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi with his Afghan counterpart Zalmay Rasoul that took place in Dushanbe on July 27, the Tajik MFA information department reports.

The sides also discussed the upcoming summit of the presidents of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Russia that is expected to take place in Dushanbe in September this year.

The presidents of the four nations are supposed to consider issues related to strengthening of stability and security in the region and development of trade and economic relations for the purpose of promoting reconstruction of Afghanistan’s economy, the source said.

Zarifi and Rasoul also discussed implementation of regional infrastructure development projects, underlying the significance of them for development of the economies of the two nations.

The sides also considered issues related to implementation of projects aimed at construction of a rail link connecting the two countries and a gas pipeline from Afghanistan to Tajikistan as well as training of personnel for Afghanistan in Tajikistan.

Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rasoul arrived in Dushanbe yesterday for a four-day visit.  Today, Zalmay Rasoul is scheduled to hold talks with President Emomali Rahmon and the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Chairman Shukurjon Zuhurov.