"Given Iran's technical and engineering capabilities, the conditions are ready now for furthering cooperation between the two countries in economic fields," the Iranian foreign minister said during the meeting held on the sidelines of the first World Against Violence and Extremism (WAVE) conference in Tehran.
Zarif noted that Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan can increase their collaborations in different areas, and said, "The trilateral meeting among the foreign ministers of Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan will be held in near future."
The Iranian foreign minister pointed to the cultural, historical and religious commonalities of the two nations, and said, "I hope Iran and Tajikistan will further expand their relations in the near future."
The Tajik deputy foreign minister, for his part, said that the recent visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Tajikistan paved the way for the expansion of bilateral ties, and added, "The political will of the two countries' senior officials has created a positive atmosphere for bolstering mutual cooperation."
Shamsiddin Zahedi reiterated that cooperation among the countries attending the WAVE conference can pave the way for broadening all-out ties in collective campaign against terrorism, violence and extremism.
Last month, Tajik Ambassador to Tehran Nematollah Imamzadeh stressed the abundant economic and industrial capacities of Iran and Tajikistan, and announced plans to increase the value of trade exchanges between the two countries to the level of $300 million.
"We have plans to increase the trade and commercial exchanges to $300mln and this is easy and available given the trade, commercial and industrial possibilities that the two countries have," Imamzadeh told FNA at the time.
He said that Iran is among Tajikistan's top 10 trade partners.
The Tajik envoy also welcomed presence of the Iranian companies in Tajikistan, and said Iran has adopted positive measures for economic progress and development of Tajikistan after the latter's independence, including the construction of Sangtoudeh-II Dam and Power Plant.
The Tajik diplomat also underscored his country's cooperation with Iran in the regional and international bodies, and said Tajikistan supports Tehran's membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Imamzadeh added that Dushanbe also supports Iran's peaceful nuclear program, and expressed the hope that the nuclear talks between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany).
