President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends,
I am pleased to have this opportunity to meet you on the sidelines of this international event.
First of all, I would like to say that our strategic partnership continues to develop. I am delighted to say that Russia remains Tajikistan’s main trade and economic partner ahead of Kazakhstan and China.
In January-March 2018, our trade increased by another 18 percent. Work is proceeding quite actively. Our companies have invested nearly $2 billion in your economy.
We are also modernising your armed forces and training your military personnel. A total of 500 Tajikistani servicemen are studying at Russian Defence Ministry academies.
There are many security issues on our agenda in light of the complicated situation on your southern borders, that is, in Afghanistan. We will discuss them today.
We will also meet in Dushanbe in October.
I am pleased to see you today and to have this opportunity to carry on our work.
President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon: Thank you, Mr President.
This is our first meeting since your re-election. I would like to congratulate you once again and to wish you strong health and success. I am pleased to have this meeting with you.
We highly appreciate the level of relations between our countries. I would like to use this occasion to discuss with you some aspects of our strategic partnership. Also, I would like to hold an in-depth discussion on regional security, including the situation on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border.
Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev recently paid an official visit to Tajikistan. We held detailed discussions on all aspects of our trade and economic cooperation.
I am pleased to meet with you.
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