DUSHANBE, January 13, 2012, Asia-Plus – President Emomali Rahmon yesterday afternoon received visiting Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.

According to the presidential press service, the two considered a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Estonia in different fields.  Strengthening of legal foundation of bilateral cooperation was also among major topics of the meeting.

In the course of the talks, President Rahmon reportedly noted that Tajikistan was interested in expansion of relations with the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) and stressed that similar positions of Tajikistan and Estonia on many issues and problems of the modern world could serve as foundation for further expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Estonian foreign minister, for his part, noted that his country would support Tajikistan’s admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The sides also discussed regional security issues and problems to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet arrived in Dushanbe Wednesday afternoon on a three-day working visit.

Diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and Estonia were established on February 23, 2006.

President Emomali Rahmon paid a working visit to Estonia on February 13 2009 and his visit resulted in signing of the declaration on cooperation to develop bilateral relations between Tajikistan and Estonia.

According to data of the State Committee for Statistics, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Estonia in January-October 2011 has valued at US$2.482 million.  This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Estonia estimated at US$134,000 and Tajikistan’s imports from Estonia worth US$2.348 million.