The Federation Council Speaker met with Speaker of the Majlisi Milli of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan Rustami Emomali to discuss inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Held as part of an official visit by the delegation of the Majlisi Milli to Moscow at the Federation Council Speaker’s invitation, the conversation between Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko and Speaker of the Majlisi Milli of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan Rustami Emomali focused on the prospects of inter-parliamentary cooperation.
In her remarks, Valentina Matvienko stressed that Russia and Tajikistan were natural partners and allies whose relations have stood the test of time. “The relations between our countries have been enjoying positive momentum in all spheres, with the ongoing trust-based top-level dialogue and close personal contacts between our respective heads of state playing an instrumental role in this process. In March, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon travelled to Russia on an official visit. It is important that he attended celebrations marking 80 years of our shared Victory in the Great Patriotic War,” she pointed out.
The Federation Council Speaker went on to talk about the importance of legislative efforts in terms of promoting bilateral relations, and mentioned several cooperation mechanisms, such as the Commission for Cooperation between the Federation Council and the Majlisi Milli, as well as the Russia-Tajikistan: Potential for Region-to-Region Cooperation Inter-Parliamentary Forum. “We hope that the relevant committees will continue their effective joint efforts,” the Speaker said.
The Federation Council Speaker went on to focus on the way the parliamentary delegations representing the two countries have been working together on international platforms including the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPA CIS, and the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly. “Tajikistan is chairing the CIS this year, which offers us more opportunities for stepping up our common efforts within the Commonwealth of Independent States,” Valentina Matvienko said, before thanking her counterpart for the initiative to host the IPA CIS autumn session in Tajikistan.
Rustami Emomali took the floor to say that 80 years of Victory was an important date for everyone, offering a rock-solid foundation for promoting the strategic partnership between the two countries. “Tajikistan attaches a lot of importance to expanding its multi-faceted ties with Russia, and has made strides in forging closer political, trade, economic, humanitarian, and scientific-technological relations, with inter-parliamentary contacts serving as an essential element in this process,” he pointed out.
The Speaker of the Majlisi Milli also said that the two upper chambers of parliament can set a high standard in their inter-parliamentary dialogue, including by working together at multilateral venues.
The conversation also covered region-to-region cooperation between Russia and Tajikistan as one of the key elements for strengthening integration processes between the two countries. “Over 70 Russian regions have developed business ties with Tajikistan in a wide range of sectors,” Valentina Matvienko said.
Participants in the meeting paid special attention to educational cooperation. “Tajikistan was the first country to take part in the Russian Teacher Abroad humanitarian project under the auspices of our respective upped chambers of parliament,” the Federation Council Speaker noted, adding that the project has helped create joint secondary schools offering their curriculum in the Russian language.
Rustami Emomali responded by saying that students in Tajikistan study Russian at all the levels of education.
The Memory Train project played an important role in forging closer people-to-people ties between the two countries, Valentina Matvienko said. “Knowing your past offers a foundation for building the future. This project enables young people from across the CIS to meet each other and feel proud about our shared achievements,” she added.
She also mentioned the Journey to the Heart of Eurasia 2025 international expedition as another important project in terms of reinforcing youth ties. It is held under the auspices of the Russia-Tajikistan Business Council.
The Federation Council Speaker stressed that Rustami Emomali’s visit to Moscow will serve as a new impetus to developing Russia-Tajikistan relations in all spheres, including between their respective upper chambers of parliament.
Participants in the meeting included Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lilia Gumerova, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Anatoly Shirokov, Member of the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management Gennady Ordenov, and Member of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Andrey Chernyshev.