DUSHANBE, October 28, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Dushanbe yesterday evening for a three-day official visit, Tajik MFA information department reports.

At the Dushanbe airport, Belarusian leader was welcomed by Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov and other high-ranking Tajik state officials.

Lukashenko is scheduled to hold Talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon today afternoon.  State and prospects of further expansion of economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Belarus I expected to be a major topic of the meeting.  Their talks will be followed by negotiations in an enlarged format.

Ten cooperation documents, including an agreement between Tajikistan and Belarus on long-term trade and economic cooperation and a joint statement by the leaders of the two countries, will be signed during Belarusian president’s visit to Tajikistan, the source said.

Tomorrow, President Lukashenko is expected to meet with the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Shukurjon Zuhurov and teachers and students at Tajik Technical University.

Belarusian leader will leave Dushanbe for Minsk Saturday afternoon, the source said.    

According to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Belarus in January-September 2011 has valued more than 52.8 million U.S. dollars, which is 47.7 percent more than in the same period last year.  This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Belarus estimated at 9.7 million U.S. dollars and Tajikistan’s imports from Belarus worth some 43.8 million U.S. dollars.  Belarus’ major exports to Tajikistan are sugar, tractors, fluoride, chipboards, tires, furniture, medicines, and refrigerators.  Belarus imports mostly cotton fiber and dried fruits from Tajikistan.