DUSHANBE, August 5, 2011, Asia-Plus -- On Thursday August 4, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi met in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan with Baymurat Hojamuhammedov Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan for Oil and Gas Sectors, the Tajik MFA information department reports.

In the course of the talks, the two reportedly discussed bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in the oil-and-gas sector.

On the same day, Tajik minister met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov.  The two considered issues related to implementation of trade and economic projects as well as ways of further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.  Both sides stressed that their countries would use existing capacities to expand bilateral cooperation.

Zarifi’s discussions with Deryageldy Orazov, Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan for Construction and Energy, were focused on bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in the fields of energy and construction.

Zarifi also met with Nazarguly Shagulyev, Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan for Transport and Communications, and Orazmurad Gurbannazarov, Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan for Trade and Textile Industry, yesterday.

Zarifi and Shagulyev discussed further expansion of bilateral cooperation on development of international railway lines, opening of direct air routes between the two countries and some aspects of regional cooperation.    

Trade relations between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, opening of Tajik House of Trade in Ashgabat and Turkmen House of Trade in Dushanbe and purchase of consumer’s goods through the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan were in the focus of Zarifi’s discussions with Orazmurad Gurbannazarov, the source said.