Russia to further broaden partnership with Tajikistan - PM Mishustin

DUSHANBE. March 3 (Interfax) - Russia values its partnership with Tajikistan and will continue to expand bilateral cooperation, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.

"We sincerely treasure our allied, fraternal and historical relations with Tajikistan. Of course, the treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance creates a sound foundation for that. This year, we will mark its 30th anniversary," Mishustin said at a meeting with Speaker of the National Council of Tajikistan's Supreme Assembly Rustam Emomali.

"In June of last year, as agreed by [Russian President] Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and [Tajik President] Emomali Sharipovich Rahmon, practical agreements were reached to expand our interaction on the entire bilateral agenda. Our task is to implement the decisions made by our leaders," the Russian prime minister said.

Mishustin said that it is his first visit to Tajikistan as Russia's prime minister. He thanked the Tajik authorities for the organization of all events and conveyed the Russian president's best wishes to them.

Mishustin also thanked Rustam Emomali for his active interaction with Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko and State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.

The prime minister also reaffirmed Russia's interest in developing cooperation with Tajikistan's regions.

"We are interested in deepening interregional cooperation. More than 70 constituent territories of the Russian Federation have been developing business ties with Tajikistan. It is a very large number of projects," he said.

Another priority avenue of bilateral cooperation is education and science, Mishustin said, adding that five Russian schools opened in Tajikistan last year.

"We'd like to continue this interaction. Schools are becoming centers of attraction for the youth. They then study at Russian and Tajik universities, institutes, become friends and develop our mutual relations," he said.