Russia played an important role in the process of reestablishing peace and accord in Tajikistan and made a significant contribution to socioeconomic development of the country and strengthening of its national independence, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon told reporters here yesterday after a meeting with Russian president Emomali Rahmon.

According to him, the meeting “confirmed the high level of mutual political confidence.”  

“A mutual interest was shown in continuation of a constant political dialogue, which promotes further expansion of our cooperation in all directions,” Rahmon said.

Tajik leader also pointed to the necessity of expansion of cooperation between the regions of the two countries.  

Both sides confirmed their readiness to continue bilateral cooperation in sectors like agriculture, mining, energy, and textile industry.  

EuarasiaNet.org reports that the most significant break for Tajikistan was signaled by Putin’s remark about his government considering a revision on a ban of Tajik citizens barred from traveling to Russia for one or other reason.

“We discussed this.  And overall a solution has been found and we will work in line with an agreement reached with the president of Tajikistan,” Putin said.

Since laborers are essentially Tajikistan’s most important export commodity — and the money those workers send back home the most important import commodity — strong focus has been placed on bolstering options on this front. Rahmon said it was particularly important that Russian language instruction be improved in his country, according to EurasiaNet.org.

Tajik leader also underlined the importance of creation of favorable conditions to meet Tajik nationals’ interest in obtaining education in the Russian language.  

“We now have branches of three Russian institutes of higher learning in Tajikistan, and we have around 20,000 of our citizens studying in Russian universities, including through quotas set by the Russian government.  We are grateful to the Russian government for their decision to increase the quota for Tajik students this academic year,” Rahmon said.

As far as a two-way trade is concerned, the biggest takeaway was a pledge to increase the export of “ecologically clean” produce from Tajikistan to Russia.

“During the talks, we also thoroughly reviewed the status and prospects of Tajik-Russian cooperation in the bilateral format and within international organizations such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),” Rahmon said.

According to Tajik leader, they also discussed military and technical cooperation and modernization of Tajikistan’s armed forces. 

Meanwhile, no mention was made of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).