Iran Press/ Iran news: The Tajik foreign minister, Sirodjidin Muhriddin, before his meeting with president Hassan Rouhani, had a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
The Tajik foreign minister's discussions with senior Iranian officials included expansion and deepening of political, economic and commercial ties, strengthening of political, economic and international cooperation, and combating extremism and terrorism in the region.
The Tajik foreign minister's trip to Tehran can be viewed as the start of a new round of negotiations between Tehran and Dushanbe, aimed at boosting political and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Iran has a well-developed engineering and construction sector and can help Tajikistan build its underlying infrastructure, particularly with regards to electricity generation.
According to various studies, about 15 percent of all the hydroelectric power plants in the world can be constructed in Tajikistan since the country is blessed with high mountains, plenty of rain and snowfall, and rivers -- ideal conditions in fact for constructing hydroelectric electricity-generating power plants. If Tajikistan can develop its potential and develop its hydroelectric power generation industry, then undoubtedly this will be a very important factor in development of not just Tajikistan but much of Central Asia.
Iran, Tajikistan discuss boosting bilateral relations
Iran's energy minister, Reza Ardakanian, in a meeting with the Tajik foreign minister in Tehran, assured the Tajik minister that Iran is ready to help Tajikistan develop its hydroelectric power industry, assisting the country in the energy sector and 'transit of energy'.
There are two important factors in Tehran-Dushanbe cooperation. One is economic and business cooperation which was discussed at length and in detail between Tajik foreign minister Muhriddin and senior Iranian officials.
The second important factor is cooperation in combating terrorism and extremism in the region. In his meeting with the Tajik foreign minister president Hassan Rouhani emphasized that with the defeat of Takfiri terrorists in Iraq and Syria, many terrorists have now moved-on to Central Asia and the Caucasus.
For his part, Tajik foreign minster Muhriddin praised Iran's serious fight against terrorism and extremism, saying this has had "many positive effects in the region already".
Muhriddin stressed that Takfiri terror groups pose a serious threat to regional countries and thus it would be wise if all regional countries cooperated to collectively combat this scourge.
The level of cooperation and relations between Tehran and Dushanbe is far from ideal, despite the fact that both countries have ample capacities and resources to develop their ties. In recent years, economic and business ties between Iran and Tajikistan have been stagnant, needing a shot in the arm and fresh impetus.
The Tajik foreign minister's visit to Tehran can be the start of serious effort by both sides to reinvigorate economic, commercial and business ties between Tehran and Dushanbe.203/211
Commentary writer: Jamshid Aminzadeh
Translator: Mehran Derakhshandeh
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