OREANDA-NEWS. October 22, 2009. Economic projects, military technical cooperation, cooperation in the cultural and educational spheres, and cooperation in regulating labour migration were the subjects of discussion.

As part of the international agenda the parties discussed their priorities for next year's work and integration activities, in particular cooperation within the EurAsEC, SCO and the CSTO. State leaders exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan.

Following their talks, Mr Medvedev and Mr Rahmon issued a Joint Declaration which instructed the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission to prepare a draft programme for economic cooperation between Russia and Tajikistan in 2010–2012.

In the document the presidents call for continuing to implement mutually beneficial projects in the fuel and energy sector, including prospecting, development and exploitation of natural gas deposits in Tajikistan together with Gazprom, and confirm their mutual interest in implementing hydropower projects in Tajikistan.

The document identifies specific steps to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in military and military technical spheres.

The international part of the Declaration addresses issues such as judicious UN reform, improving work conducted by the CIS, and emphasizes the role of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. The document also refers to cooperation in the fight against drugs within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The Declaration notes that the presidents of Russia and Tajikistan perceive the difficult situation in Afghanistan and the threats originating from Afghan territory in exactly the same way. Mr Medvedev and Mr Rahmon are convinced that Afghanistan's return to a peaceful life requires coordinated assistance from the international community and contributions to Afghanistan's military and political stabilisation, as well as its economic reconstruction.

The President of Tajikistan is in Russia on a state visit. On the previous night, Mr Rahmon and Mr Medvedev met in an informal atmosphere in the Russian President's Barvikha residence outside Moscow.