Russia is interested in continuing cooperation with Tajikistan in implementing investment energy projects, Russian Foreign Minister told reporters in Dushanbe on February 5 following his meeting with Tajik Foreign Minister  Sirojiddin Muhriddin.

The meeting resulted in signing of a program of cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries for 2019. 

Muhriddin told reporters that they had discussed preparations for Tajik president’s visit to Russia.

According to him, they also discussed issues related to political, economic, humanitarian and military cooperation between Tajikistan and Russia.  A special attention was reportedly given to the current situation in the neighboring Afghanistan.

Lavrov, for his part, told reporters about his meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.  “In the course of the talks, we discussed operation of the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPP),” Russian minister said, noting that the Russian side is interested in in continuation of cooperation with Tajikistan in implementing investment energy projects. 

According to him, they also discussed humanitarian cooperation, including the issue of sending Russian teachers to Tajikistan.

Preparation of a package of documents is nearing completion and after that Russian side will start construction of five Russian-language schools in Tajikistan, Russian minister said.

According to him, they also discussed issues related to labor migration.  “We discussed issues of recruitment of migrants for working in Russia and provision of pension to them,” Lavrov said.  

Russian minister noted that the two-way trade between Russia and Tajikistan rose one third in a year to December 31, 2018, reaching nearly 1 billion U.S. dollars.