Turkmenistan Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, heading a Turkmen government delegation, arrived in Dushanbe yesterday afternoon on a two-day official visit, according to the Tajik MFA information department.

The visit is taking place at the invitation of Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin.  

The Turkmen delegation members reportedly include senior representatives of the Central Bank of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Education, the Agency for Transport and Communications, Chamber of Commerce and Industry and some other agencies of Turkmenistan.  

On March 8, Meredov held talks with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin.  THz parties reported discussed issues related to political, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. 

A special attention was given to the preparations for a state visit of Turkmen president to Tajikistan scheduled for the first half of April.  

The foreign ministers reportedly also discussed for preparations of the Fifth Consultative Meeting of the Central Asian heads of state and the next meeting of the Council of Heads of Founding States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) that will take place in the Tajik capital in September this year.  

Today, Turkmen foreign minister is planned to hold talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

According to the Tajik MFA, the diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan were officially established on January 27, 1993 by signing of the Protocol "On the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan."

The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan has functioned in Ashgabat since February 1993. The Embassy of Turkmenistan operates in Dushanbe as well.

In general, the current state of the Tajik-Turkmen relations has a tendency of phased expansion.  The process of practical implementation of the mutual desire of the two countries to work more closely in multi-dimensional cooperation in accordance with the potential and needs of the people reportedly can be seen in bilateral relations.