Moscow, October 8(HS): Russian President Vladimir Putin departs for Tajikistan on Wednesday for a three-day state visit aimed at strengthening Moscow’s regional partnerships in Central Asia. His visit, scheduled for October 8–10, includes talks with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, participation in the Second Russia–Central Asia Summit, and attendance at a key meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council.

According to Kremlin officials, Putin will meet President Rahmon in Dushanbe to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional security. On October 9, he will take part in the Russia–Central Asia Summit, which seeks to deepen political, economic, and cultural collaboration between Russia and the Central Asian nations.

During the concluding phase of his tour, on October 10, the Russian leader will join the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Heads of State Council meeting, where around 20 agreements are expected to be signed to enhance trade, investment, and intergovernmental cooperation within the bloc.

Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Deputy Prime Ministers Alexei Overchuk and Marat Khusnullin, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Justice Minister Konstantin Chuychenko, Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov, Labour Minister Anton Kotyakov, Education Minister Sergey Kravtsov, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, and Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin.

Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that the discussions in Dushanbe will focus on bolstering trade and investment ties and reinforcing cooperation across the CIS region, which remains a key priority of Russia’s foreign policy. He also indicated that Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are likely to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the CIS summit.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar