DUSHANBE, September 22, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon received visiting Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov Friday afternoon.

In the course of the talks, the sides discussed a broad range of issues related to further expansion of strategic partnership between the two countries, the president’s official website reported.  

The sides, in particular, discussed preparations for the upcoming visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Dushanbe.

A special attention was reportedly paid to military and military-technical cooperation between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation, including terms and conditions for the presence of the Russian military base in Tajikistan.

A draft agreement on extension of deployment of the Russian military base in Tajikistan beyond 2014 and a number of other documents on expansion of bilateral cooperation are expected to be prepared within the next few weeks and these documents are expected to be signed during President Putin’s to Tajikistan.

The Russian side reportedly once again expressed interest in participation in implementation of energy projects of regional significance in Tajikistan.  It concerns construction of hydropower plants and power transmission lines of regional significance, the source said.

Regulation of labor migrations, Russian oil product supplies and other topical issues were also discussed during the meeting.

Russian official said during the press conference after the meeting with President Rahmon that they managed to come to an agreement about “mutually beneficial and mutually acceptable solutions on all issues we discussed today.”

“We agreed that experts will finalize these proposals within the next few weeks and then we will be able to inform the presidents about the work done and the presidents will sign these documents themselves or will order relevant ministers to sign them,” Shuvalov stressed.

Speaking on preparation of the draft agreement on the Russian military base in Tajikistan, the Russian deputy prime minister noted that the date of singing of the agreement is near.  “I can say that the main problems have been solved or are nearing solution.  However, the presidents make the final decision,” Shuvalov said.

We will recall that Tajikistan and Russia have been negotiating the issue of the presence of Russia''s 201st Motorized Rifle Division for some time now and Shuvalov’s visit followed the visit of Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov to Dushanbe in mid-September.

Russia''a 201st Division and its approximately 7,500 troops use a total of three Tajik bases near Dushanbe and in the southern cities of Kulob and Qurghon-Teppa.  It is the largest deployment of Russian troops abroad.

Igor Shuvalov also noted that the countries’ ministries of energy should study all information about consumption of oil products in Tajikistan.

“Russia is not the only supplier of oil products to Tajikistan and we agreed to find out within a week what level of cooperation Russia needs in this sector,” the Russian deputy prime minister stressed.  

Born on January 4, 1966, Igor Shuvalov is Russian lawyer and politician.  He currently serves as First Deputy Prime Minister in Dmitry Medvedev''s Cabinet, after being re-appointed to the post on May 21, 2012.  Previously, he served in the same capacity in Vladimir Putin''s Second Cabinet.  As First Deputy Prime Minister, he is the most senior member of the cabinet besides the Prime Minister and is responsible for federal budget and economic policies.