"Certainly, there are some outstanding issues between our countries. But, in our opinion, the sides can reach a common position by way of negotiations," he said.

Hamrokhon Zarifi said that the sides had discussed joint actions for maintaining security and border-related issues, and signed documents at a meeting of the heads of border security services of the two countries in Tashkent and at a meeting of the heads of security agencies of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Supplies of electricity and natural gas are among the key spheres of economic cooperation.

Trade between the two countries amounted to US$300.6 million in 2007, which exceeds the figure for 2006 by 23.3%, the Tajik minister of foreign affairs said.