DUSHANBE, September 21, Asia-Plus – The second Tajik-Russian inter-parliamentary forum entitled “Russia-Tajikistan: Potential of Interregional Cooperation” ended its work in the Russian city of Orienburg on September 20.
Tajik parliamentary delegation led by Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) also Dushanbe Mayor, participated at the forum that was held in Moscow on September 17-18 and in Orienburg on September 19-20
Press service of Russia’s Federation Council (the upper house of the Russian parliament) said that the forum had ended with a meeting of the forum participants with the Orienburg governor Aleksey Chernyshov. The meeting discussed a broad range of issues related to trade and economic as well as humanitarian cooperation between the regions of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation.
Ramazan Abdulatipov, Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan also head of one of the Federation Council committees, telling the meeting noted that it was necessary to lay legal foundation to expand bilateral cooperation and efficiently implement joint business projects and regulate labor migration. Russian envoy stressed that there ought not to politicize economic issues. “This forum is being held for the purpose of reviving potentials of interregional cooperation between our countries,” Abdulatipov said.
During the meeting, it was noted that a two-trade between Tajikistan and Russia’s Orienburg region amounted to some $60 million in 2006. The Orienburg enterprises mainly export oil products, technical equipment, ferrous and non-ferrous materials, wheat flour and timber, while Tajikistan’s exports to Orienburg include fruits and vegetables, tobacco, oil-yielding crops, etc.
Last year, the Orienburg delegation led by its governor Aleksey Chernyshov visited Tajikistan to participate at the first Tajik-Russian inter-parliamentary forum in Dushanbe. The visit resulted in signing of a cooperation agreement with Tajikistan’s Sughd province.
In parallel, an exhibition of Tajik goods opened in Orienburg on September 20. the fair will run through September 23.
We will recall that the first Tajik-Russian inter-parliamentary forum that was held in Dushanbe on August 24-26 2006 paved the way for further expansion of cooperation between the regions of the two countries. The first inter-parliamentary forum resulted in signing of 19 protocols, two treaties, five agreements and five memoranda.
