ISTANBUL

Tajikistan sees stronger parliamentary cooperation with Russia as essential to advancing their strategic partnership, President Emomali Rahmon said on Friday in a meeting with Russian Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko in Dushanbe.

According to a statement released by the Tajik presidency, Rahmon said interparliamentary dialogue should play a central role in developing bilateral ties, particularly in economic, investment, energy and social areas.

He stressed that parliamentary diplomacy contributes to political dialogue as well as trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation.

Rahmon called for intensifying the work of parliamentary committees in fields such as medicine, the environment and digitalization, while also expanding experience-sharing on lawmaking, business support and social policy.

The talks also addressed Tajikistan’s current chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Rahmon expressed satisfaction with outcomes from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent state visit to Tajikistan, as well as the CIS and Central Asia–Russia summits hosted in Dushanbe, saying both sides remain committed to constructive cooperation at regional and international levels.