On Thursday, 12 May, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov had separate meetings with some heads of delegations who arrived in Ashgabat to attend the Interparliamentary Forum of Central Asian countries and Russia.
Federation Council of Russia
The head of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko conveyed to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov a greeting from Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmation of the invitation to visit Russia.
Matvienko noted the progressive development of Turkmen-Russian relations in all spheres on the basis of mutual respect, benefit and traditional friendship “The ties are reaching the level of strategic partnership, and contacts are maintained at all levels,” she said
The Chairman of the Federation Council told that in 2021 there was a slight decrease in mutual trade turnover, but in January-February 2022 the trade grew by 74%.
The regions and Russian companies are showing great interest in expanding partnership relations with Turkmenistan, she stressed.
The head of the Federation Council also underlined the importance of cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, in the field of culture, education and science.
Valentina Matvienko noted the high level of organization of the first Interparliamentary Forum of Central Asian countries and Russia in Ashgabat.
“The Central Asian region is very promising. It is a connecting transport and energy bridge between East and West, South and North. And here the parliamentary dimension can play an important role,” the speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament said.
Valentina Matvienko also stressed that Russia highly appreciates Turkmenistan’s neutral status and its independent foreign policy. “This adds weight and authority to Turkmenistan on the world stage, brings peace and stability to the region,” she added.
Parliament of Kyrgyzstan
During the meeting with President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Jogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan Talant Mamytov noted that his country “is interested in the further development of established dynamic and stable interstate relations with Turkmenistan.”
Trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, energy, agriculture, inter-parliamentary dialogue were highlighted among the key areas of cooperation.
Mamytov also mentioned the official visit of President Sadyr Zhaparov to Turkmenistan in June 2021 and invited the President of Turkmenistan to pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan.
In turn, Turkmen leader shared his views on the implementation of joint economic projects. “We intend to develop a comprehensive partnership with Kyrgyzstan,” he stressed.
Parliament of Kazakhstan
Today, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev.
The Speaker of the Parliament of the friendly state highly appreciated the organization of forums held in Ashgabat these days, which raise the international authority of Turkmenistan and its role in solving topical issues of the regional and global agenda.
In turn, the head of Turkmenistan stressed that two peoples are bound by centuries-old ties of friendship, brotherhood and good-neighborly relations, which are the basis of cooperation in a new historical era.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, including in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields, noting the high level of interstate dialogue achieved in recent years and the availability of great potential and opportunities for further intensification of partnership in a wide range of areas.
In this regard, the role of the Joint Intergovernmental Turkmen-Kazakh Commission on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation was mentioned.
They also discussed mutual interest in the implementation of joint projects in the field of science and education, culture and sports and, in general, in expanding dialogue in the humanitarian sphere.
As noted, the trusting relations between the top leadership of the states, the regular exchange of visits of delegations, the expansion of inter-parliamentary ties directly contribute to the development of a productive multidimensional dialogue between the two friendly countries and fraternal peoples.
The Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan Parliament stressed that the peacemaking policy of independent, permanently neutral Turkmenistan, which acts as a generator of a number of important international initiatives designed to contribute in every way to strengthening security and socio-economic progress in the region and the world, has earned the high international authority. Kazakhstan sees Turkmenistan as a reliable partner, a huge positive role in ensuring stability in Central Asia.
Parliament of Tajikistan
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Chairman of the Majlisi Milli Majlisi Oli of Tajikistan, Chairman of Dushanbe Rustam Emomali discussed the current state and prospects for building up the productive Turkmen-Tajik dialogue.
The parties noted with satisfaction the common approaches of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan to the urgent issues of international and regional policy, as well as the steady trend in recent years to strengthen and comprehensively expand cooperation in a number of key areas, primarily in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
Confirming the mutual readiness of the two states to continue the best traditions of centuries-old friendship and equal, trust-based partnership, the sides exchanged views on the implementation of previously reached agreements.
Among the priority vectors, the trade and economic and fuel and energy sectors, industry and electric power, agriculture and water management, healthcare, education, science, sports, were identified.
Special attention was paid to the transport and communication sphere in the light of ongoing joint projects.
Parliament of Uzbekistan
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva.
Narbayeva stressed that Uzbekistan attaches great importance to the development of a traditionally friendly dialogue with the Turkmen state, built on the foundation of centuries-old friendship and brotherhood, common history and culture, trusting relations.
Turkmen leader stated that the expansion of cooperation with the Central Asian states has been and remains one of the key directions of country’s foreign policy strategy aimed at broad international cooperation in the name of common interests.
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the current state and priorities of further fruitful cooperation.///nCa, 13 May 2022