DUSHANBE, August 22, Asia-Plus -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov today morning is leaving for the Sughd province for a two day working visit.

One of the purposes of this visit is for Emomali Rahmonov to attend an official commencement of the construction of the Shahriston tunnel, presidential press service reported.

We will recall that the official commencement of the construction of the tunnel was adjourned on August 15 until August 22.  The adjournment has been ordered in connection with preparations for other jubilees in the country.  As it had been reported earlier, China’s companies had won tenders to build the Shahriston (Sughd province) and Shar-Shar tunnels (Khatlon province) tunnels in Tajikistan, and Beijing this year offered Tajikistan grants and loans to fund these projects.  Construction of a 5-kilometer Shahriston tunnel is part of plans to improve road communications between Dushanbe, Khujand and the Uzbek border city of Chanoq.  China’s construction company “China Road” will excavate the Shahriston tunnel.  

 During his stay in northern Tajikistan Rahmonov also will inaugurate a new school in the Ghonchi district. 

Rahmonov will also participate in an official opening of a museum constructed within the old city citadel and a stele with national symbols of Tajikistan scheduled on August 23. 

On the same day, he will take part at a meeting of local authorities of Sughd.  The meeting will sum up Sughd’s economic results in January-June 2006 and set tasks for resolving existing problems, according to the source.