DUSHANBE, March 24 (RIA Novosti, Gerai Dadashev) - Russian energy giant Gazprom said Friday it was seeking to cooperate with the Tajik Energy Ministry in developing the country's oil and gas fields.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller is expected to arrive in the Central Asian nation's capital, Dushanbe, on March 27, where he will meet with President Emomali Rakhmonov, Prime Minister Akil Akilov, and Energy Minister Dzhurabek Nurmakhmadov.

Tajikistan is going to invite Gazprom to develop natural gas fields in Dangara, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) southeast of Dushanbe, and Shakhrinava, 35km (20 miles) to the west of the capital.

The sides are planning to sign a memorandum of intent on the establishing of a joint Tajik-Russian oil and gas venture.

Last year, Gazprom said it was going to spend $5 million on prospecting Tajik oil and gas fields.