Uzbekistan “remains one of our leading partners in the region,” Tajik Deputy Prime Minister Murodali Alimardon said at the session’s opening ceremony.

According to Alimardon, Dushanbe counts on new forms of cooperation and confidence-building measures between the two neighbouring countries.

Uzbekistan’s chief delegate, First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov said that today’s talks would be constructive and businesslike, and that all problems would be solved on the basis of stances worked out by both countries’ presidents.

Azimov hopes that there are grounds for constructive cooperation between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Later in the day Azimov was received by Tajik President Emomali Rakmon.