DUSHANBE (IRIB News) – Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov said here Thursday that a new chapter has opened in Iran-Tajikistan ties.

He made the remarks in his annual speech to representatives of the upper chamber (national assembly) of the parliament, adding that the two sides are now experiencing deep and friendly ties.

Given the cultural, historical and linguistic commonalties between the two countries, he said implementation of Anzab tunnel in the north of Tajikistan and construction of a hydro-electric power plant by Iran are among the new political and economic chapters which have opened.

The downfall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan prepared grounds for expansion of ties among countries in the region specially those sharing a common language (i.e. Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan), he said adding that the construction of international Mashhad-Herat-Dushanbe road would further expand road communications between these countries.

Talks on construction of such a major road have been conducted between the officials of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, he said, adding that the international road would make access to international markets easy.

Implementation of the plan would connect Tajikistan to Iran and Afghanistan which would be regarded as a short-cut for export of Tajik made products, he said.

Expansion of friendly cooperation between Tajikistan, Iran, China and Pakistan would help restore stability and security in the region, he underlined.