DUSHANBE, July 9, 2015, Asia-Plus – Russian media outlets report that Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at the seventh BRICS summit in Ufa to discuss bilateral relations.

The two leaders reportedly exchanged views on key issues of bilateral and international cooperation.

Russian president, in particular, noted, “I am pleased to state that our relationship with Tajikistan is prospering.  Despite various economic difficulties we have experienced in Europe, in the world and in Russia last year, the trade between Russia and Tajikistan grew by almost 21 percent.  This is a very good sign. We have a small decrease there, but generally speaking the tendency is very good.  We note the good and qualitative work of Tajikistan as the chair country of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).  Many important events have been taking place [in Tajikistan], military drills have been conducted successfully.”

For his part, Emomali Rahmon noted that he was very happy about our meeting.  He expressed confidence that the SCO summit will be successful.  “Tajikistan and Russia are strategic partners and therefore we have things to discuss today.  Our priority is the development of the relationship between our nations,” Tajik president said.

Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service cited Mohammad Egamzod, a spokesman for the Tajik Embassy in Moscow, as saying that the meeting focused on issues related to security and military cooperation.  The two leaders reportedly noted that Tajikistan and Russia should have sustainable and continuous cooperation in addressing modern challenges and threats combating, including terrorism, separatism and drug trafficking, as well as in strengthening Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan and in countering information war.

They expressed hope that bilateral and multilateral plans on providing technical assistance to armed force, border troops and other relevant structures of Tajikistan would be implemented.

According to Egamzod, Rahmon and Putin also touched upon the labor migration problems.