DUSHANBE, May 28, 2013, Asia-Plus – On the sidelines of an informal summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on May 28.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the sides discussed a broad range of issues related to bilateral security, economic and humanitarian cooperation between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation.

Putin reportedly expressed concerned about decrease in trade between Russia and Tajikistan in 2012.  He pointed to the necessity analyzing the tend and taking measures to eliminate it.  “I think this situation is reparable, because Russia remains the main trading partner of Tajikistan and its largest investor,” Putin stated.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon noted that agreements that had been reached during the last visit of Putin to Tajikistan had begun to be implemented.

The Kremlin press office reports that Tajik president has noted, “We have something to talk about.”  “First of all, we should discuss the course of implementation of agreements that were reached in October 2012 and regional security as international forces prepare to withdraw in 2014,” Emomali Rahmon was quoted as saying by the Kremlin press office.

Tajik leader noted that bilateral humanitarian cooperation between the two countries was expanding.  The branch of third Russian higher educational institution will be opened in Tajikistan.