Tajikistan to double trade volume with Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): The speaker of Tajikistan’s parliament has linked stability in Central Asia to peace and security in Afghanistan.

Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda made the remarks at a meeting with Afghan Ambassador to Tajikistan Mohammad Zahir Aghbar, a media report said on Monday.

The speaker underlined the need for creating favourable conditions for Afghanistan’s development, his spokesman Muhammadato Sultonov told Asia Plus.

Tajikistan, as Afghanistan’s friendly neighbour, desired to expand trade and economic cooperation with the war-hit country, he added.

The expansion of bilateral trade was of particular importance, Zokirzoda remarked, saying Tajikistan planned to double its trade volume with Afghanistan.

More than 500 Afghans were currently studying at Tajik universities, he said, adding over 1,500 Afghans, including more than 100 women, had graduated from various universities in the Central Asian country.

The two sides also conferred on bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, transportation and culture, the media outlet said.

PAN Monitor/mud