DUSHANBE, July 31, 2014, Asia-Plus – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday afternoon.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the sides discussed state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation.

They, in particular, noted that working visit of Tajik president to Sochi, visits of parliament speakers of the two countries and a meeting of the joint commission for trade and economic cooperation took place this year.

Besides, the program for modernization of the Tajik Armed Forces under support of the Russian Federation has been endorsed this year.

The sides also expressed confidence that the document on duty-free delivery of Russian oil products to Tajikistan will be ratified in the near future.

Issues related to protection of rights of Tajik labor migrants working in Russia and expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Russia in the fields of education, science and culture were also discussed.

Rahmon and Lavrov also exchanged views on the agendas of a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member nations that is being held in the Tajik capital today and a SCO summit that will take place in Dushanbe in September.     

They reportedly also discussed regional security issues, including situation in Afghanistan and providing technical assistance to Tajik border guards.