More than 70 Russian regions maintain direct trade and economic ties with Tajikistan, with over 80 existing agreements covering various fields, the Federation Council Speaker said.
The 8th Inter-Parliamentary Forum, Tajikistan-Russia: The potential of interregional cooperation, opened in Dushanbe. The heads of the upper houses of parliament from Tajikistan and Russia — Chairman of the Majlisi Milli of the Republic of Tajikistan Rustami Emomali and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko, respectively — opened the forum’s plenary session.
The Federation Council Speaker noted the excellent organisation of the forum and thanked her Tajik counterparts for their hospitality.
“Cooperation with Tajikistan, including at the parliamentary and regional levels, has traditionally been among the priorities of Russia’s foreign policy and the inter-parliamentary activities of the upper house of the parliament,” Valentina Matvienko said.
The Federation Council Speaker stated that the two countries were steadily expanding their relations based on strategic partnership and alliance. According to her, this is facilitated by a trust-based relationship between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, who are supportive of inter-parliamentary cooperation.
“We aim to build interaction between legislators based on the same open and trust-based relationship and work actively bilaterally and on multilateral venues, including the CIS, the CSTO, and the SCO,” she added.
According to the Federation Council Speaker, practical work is being carried out to develop consolidated approaches to key international and regional issues at the UN and its specialised agencies. “Inter-parliamentary cooperation is gaining momentum every year, and the Cooperation Commission of the Federation Council and the Majlisi Milli Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan is functioning successfully. Ensuring independent election observation is an important area of inter-parliamentary cooperation.”
Valentina Matvienko emphasised the strengthening of interregional cooperation. Today, she said, more than 70 Russian regions maintain direct trade and economic ties with Tajikistan. “Over 80 agreements have been signed in areas such as engineering, transport, energy, mining, agriculture, and others. The Russian regions’ interest in expanding cooperation with their Tajik partners continues to grow. We see this.”
The Federation Council Speaker suggested that the bilateral inter-parliamentary commission monitor the effectiveness of the existing agreements in order to add content to them and to elevate interregional ties to a whole new level.
In addition to trade and economic ties, Russia and Tajikistan are successfully cooperating in education, science, and culture, she noted. “I believe that expanding humanitarian ties most effectively contributes to strengthening friendship between the peoples of Russia and Tajikistan.”
Speaking about large-scale events, the Federation Council Speaker mentioned Tajik Culture Days in Russia in 2022 and Russian Culture Days in the Republic of Tajikistan in 2023. The parliaments will support such initiatives, Valentina Matvienko said.
“We can talk about the existence of a largely shared cultural space between Russia and Tajikistan while preserving ethnic cultures and traditions. It is very important for our cultural institutions and cultural figures to have legal opportunities to expand their cooperation,” the Federation Council Speaker said, suggesting that the legal framework in this area be expanded.
A significant role in maintaining this unity is played by the widespread study of the Russian language by the Republic’s residents. The Federation Council Speaker thanked the leadership of Tajikistan for its ongoing attention to the Russian language studies in the Republic.
Russian is recognised as the language of interethnic communication in the Constitution of Tajikistan, Valentina Matvienko said, noting that the upper houses of the two countries’ parliaments spearheaded the expansion of cooperation in education and launched several humanitarian projects, including sending teachers from Russian regions to Tajikistan. “Our initiative was supported by the presidents of both countries and was implemented on a large scale.” Thanks to the atmosphere of respect and attention towards Russian teachers in Tajikistan, they are happy to come to the Republic, and many of them stay for another year, the Federation Council Speaker noted. She believes this area of interregional cooperation should continue.
Valentina Matvienko noted that the Federation Council had recently approved the ratification of an agreement that will lay legal grounds for creating an International Educational Centre for Gifted Children in Dushanbe. “The funding has been set aside the construction of this unparalleled centre will begin next year.”
The Inter-Parliamentary Forum traditionally promotes cooperation projects, especially among the younger generation, Valentina Matvienko said. “Russia offers unique educational opportunities for the Tajik youth. More than 36,000 Tajik students are studying at Russian universities, including branches in Tajikistan. University collaboration is expanding at the regional level, as well. For example, the Mining and Metallurgical Institute of Tajikistan in the Sughd region is collaborating with the Russian State Geological Exploration University in training geologists. The examples abound.”
The Memory Train cultural and educational project came as a remarkable event for schoolchildren from Russia and Tajikistan, Valentina Matvienko said. “This year, Tajik high school students participated in the project for the first time, and we are happy about this. It was a memorable and educational trip. The students learned more about the Great Patriotic War, the heroic deeds and valour of their grandfathers and fathers, and made new friends from other CIS countries.”
Next year will mark the 80th anniversary of our common Victory, Valentina Matvienko said. “This event must be properly celebrated in all our countries at all levels, including at the parliamentary level.”
The head of the upper house of the Parliament of Tajikistan noted that the inter-parliamentary dialogue promotes the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as economic, political, and humanitarian cooperation. At the same time, there is great potential for expanding and strengthening intergovernmental and interregional relations across all areas, as well as for reinforcing the friendly and fraternal ties between the two countries, Rustami Emomali said.
The plenary session was chaired by co-chairs of the Cooperation Commission of the upper houses of the parliaments of the two countries, namely, First Deputy Chairman of the Majlisi Milli Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan Rajabboy Ahmadzoda and Deputy Federation Council Speaker Nikolai Zhuravlev.
Nikolai Zhuravlev said in his remarks that Russia is Tajikistan’s leading foreign economic partner. “As of late 2023, trade between our countries increased by almost 6 percent to about 144 billion roubles. Russia comes second after China in terms of investment in Tajikistan’s economy and — with 330 companies — is leading in terms of the number of companies with foreign participation.”
It is important to continue expanding these ties, the senator emphasised. Among the priority areas, he mentioned cooperation in the banking sector, including exchanging experiences in banking service practices, developing innovative technologies, and professional training. Another key issue includes cooperation in improving securities markets, Nikolai Zhuravlev said.
Theme-based panels will be held as part of the forum. They will focus on regional security issues and bilateral trade, economic, and humanitarian cooperation with the participation of parliamentarians, executives, and representatives of the regions of Russia and Tajikistan.
Following the discussions, the parliamentarians will develop recommendations for deepening the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, Nikolai Zhuravlev said.