President of Russia Vladimir Putin arrived in Dushanbe for talks with Emomali Rahmon. The presidents discussed security issues, Sputnik Tajikistan reports.
According to the media outlet, Vladimir Putin warmly greeted Tajikistan.
The Russian President said he would have come earlier, but the pandemic did not let him do it. He admitted that he was «very happy to be on the friendly land of an ally in this region of the world.»
«Our relationship is very deep, trusting, allied. We are working in all directions, and actively,» the Russian leader added.
Putin also congratulated the President Emomali Rahmon and the people of the republic on the Day of National Accord, which was celebrated in Tajikistan the day before.
«I will brief you on those issues that are of the greatest interest to Russia and are very sensitive. For my part, I will be glad to hear your opinion on how relations are developing in Afghanistan,» Putin said.
He also said that Russia was doing its best to normalize the situation in Afghanistan.
«We are trying to build relations with those political forces that control the situation, but we are proceeding from the premise that all ethnic groups represented in Afghanistan, as stated before, should have a full part in governing the country. We have contacts with all political forces in Afghanistan. Recently a representative delegation from Afghanistan attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum,» the Russian President said.
Earlier, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told journalists that Putin and Rahmon will discuss topical issues of bilateral cooperation, including trade and economic, military, military-technical, cultural, humanitarian and migration issues.
From Tajikistan Putin will travel to Ashgabat to participate in the Caspian Five Summit.
