Presidents of RF, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan urge fast

DUSHANBE, September 2 (Itar-Tass) -- The presidents of Russia,
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan have requested the ministries of the
economy and other agencies in their countries to accelerate the
preparation of "road maps" for long-term cooperation.
As they said in a joint statement issued today after the summit in
Dushanbe, such steps should be taken in the interests of trading and
economic relations of the four states. Among the main areas of cooperation
are "aviation, road and rail links, regional energy needs, modernization
of obsolete industries and creation of new ones and a favorable investment
climate."
The document also states that the heads of state, "affirming and
encouraging the attraction of investments into such sectors as energy,
transport, communications, construction, mining, chemistry, food and other
industries, as well as into the agricultural sector, recommend the
establishment of direct contacts between businesses of their countries. "
The presidents said that "the further development and expansion of
transit and transportation corridors promotes regional trade, increases
foreign investment and faciliates joint cooperation projects." In this
regard, the summit's participants believe it is important to speed up the
implementation of projects for connecting the railways and roads in the
region.