By the end of 2024, Russia remains Tajikistan's major trading partner. A two-way trade between the countries has increased by almost 20%, reaching US$1.79 billion. The Tajik president’s official website says these figures were shared by President Emomali Rahmon during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday evening at the Igora resort facility in Russia’s Leningrad oblast.
"Russia is Tajikistan's main strategic partner, and we are generally satisfied with the dynamics of development in all areas," Rahmon stated.
"Our relations are very constructive and are developing at a good pace. Tajikistan is a reliable ally and a strong economic partner. The Russian Federation ranks first among Tajikistan's trade and economic partners and second in terms of investments. There was an increase last year, and there will be another increase this year, albeit a small one," Putin noted.
Putin reportedly emphasized that the governments of both countries have prepared a joint work plan for the coming years, aimed at implementing projects beneficial to Tajikistan as a rapidly growing and developing economy.
The Russian President announced that the number of Russian educators working in Tajikistan would be increased from 72 to 82.
"I know you often criticize us for having too few Russian teachers and textbooks. I completely agree with you. We will undoubtedly expand this joint work," Putin said.
Additionally, he expressed readiness to increase the quota for Tajik students in Russian universities.
The talks reportedly also focused on cooperation in ensuring security and stability, including information security.
The parties also exchanged views on developing cooperation within international and regional organizations, including the CIS, where Tajikistan will assume chairmanship in the next year.
Prior to the meeting, Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian President, told journalists that discussions with Emomali Rahmon would include "pressing issues of migration policy." However, the press releases from both presidents' offices made no mention of migration issues following the talks.
Meanwhile, Kremlin says Putin, for his part, noted that relations between Russia and Tajikistan are constructive and are advancing at a good pace and Tajikistan is reliable ally and a good economic partner of Russia.
According to him, the plan of joint work for the next few years outlines promising areas of cooperation, which have not been chosen accidentally. “Everything that has been prepared by the governments of our two countries is designed to go beyond fostering our relations, and includes implementing the projects, which Tajikistan, as a country with a rapidly growing and developing economy, has an interest in,” the Russian president said, noting that Russia attaches great importance to cooperation between the countries’ regions.
“The humanitarian contacts are expanding as well. And here I would like to call attention to the branches of Russian universities operating in Tajikistan and to the fact that Tajikistanis enjoys the largest quota – 1,000 students – for education in the Russian Federation, which we never stop to increase and are prepared to do so again soon,” said Putin. “With your direct participation and at your request, several schools with the Russian language classes have opened in Tajikistan, which is a very interesting and promising area.”
International security cooperation with Tajikistan as Russia’s closest ally continues in a very trust-based and constructive manner, the Russian president added.
