A meeting of the Joint Turkmen-Tajik Intergovernmental Commission for Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation is taking place in Ashgabat. Among those attending the meeting are senior officials and leading specialists of sectoral agencies, representatives of the two countries’ business communities. The meeting focuses on the issues of bilateral relations. The trade-economic and fuel and energy sectors, industry, power industry, agriculture, water management, health care, education, science, sport and tourism were identified as priority areas of cooperation. Special consideration was given to the transport and communication sector given the ongoing joint construction project – Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railway. The meeting participants stressed the need to expand a range and increase volumes of goods, render a wider spectrum of services, establish direct contacts between the two countries’ agencies and closer relations between business enterprises. Much importance is attached to cooperation in the humanitarian sphere with emphasis on the organization of Culture Days on a regular basis, participation of creative groups and performing artists in festivals, concerts and other events. Highlighting the success of the talks, the attendees expressed confidence that the steps considered at the meeting would encourage greater cooperation. Set up in 2007, the Joint Turkmen-Tajik Intergovernmental Commission for Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation significantly contributes to establishing business contacts. The meeting is expected to result in signing the relevant protocol.