Russian President Welcomes Tajik Leader for Bilateral Talks in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg, The Gulf Observer: Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly welcomed Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon to Saint Petersburg for bilateral discussions, emphasizing the strong and constructive relationship between the two nations.
Speaking at the meeting, President Putin highlighted the robust pace of bilateral relations, noting that Russia remains Tajikistan’s top trade and economic partner and ranks second in terms of investment. He remarked on the upward trajectory of mutual investments, which have consistently grown over recent years.
The leaders acknowledged the success of the recent intergovernmental commission meeting, co-chaired by Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin and Tajikistan’s Prime Minister. They finalized a comprehensive plan for joint projects spanning multiple sectors of mutual interest.
President Putin lauded Tajikistan’s rapid economic development and emphasized Russia’s commitment to supporting its initiatives. He also underscored the importance of interregional cooperation, with many regions in both countries maintaining direct ties.
In the humanitarian domain, President Putin highlighted the growing number of Tajik students studying in Russia, with Tajikistan receiving the largest annual quota of 1,000 students. He praised the opening of schools offering Russian language instruction in Tajikistan, calling it a promising area of collaboration.
The two leaders also discussed international security, with President Putin noting the trust-based and constructive nature of cooperation in this sphere.
President Rahmon is scheduled to join an expanded meeting with other leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) tomorrow, marking a New Year’s Eve gathering of regional heads of state.
