Serdar Berdimuhamedov held talks with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Talks between President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who arrived in our country on an official visit, took place in the Turkmen capital today.

In the afternoon, the leader of a friendly country, accompanied by an honorary escort of motorcyclists, proceeded to the Presidential Palace Complex "Oguzhan". Here, at the main entrance, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was warmly welcomed by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

At the end of the official photography ceremony against the background of the National Flags of the two countries, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov invites President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to go to the Rowaç hall, where high-level one-on-one talks took place.

Thanking his Kazakh counterpart for accepting the invitation to pay an official visit to Turkmenistan and take part in tomorrow's International Forum dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the great Turkmen poet and thinker of the East Makhtumkuli Fragi, the head of state also expressed gratitude to the distinguished guest for his great personal contribution to the development of bilateral strategic partnership.

As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted, this is the fifth Turkmen-Kazakh summit this year. Such regularity testifies to the high level of mutual understanding, trust and openness achieved in recent years in interstate relations, and the mutual interest of the parties in their further strengthening and expansion.

Cooperation between our countries is developing steadily and steadily in all directions. They are based on the deep historical ties of friendship and good-neighborliness of the Turkmen and Kazakh peoples, as well as the proximity of the positions of the two states on key issues of modern international politics, a solid legal framework for interaction, and the presence of a powerful mutual economic potential.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for the continued support of Turkmenistan's neutral foreign policy course, assistance in promoting its constructive initiatives and ideas put forward within the framework of the United Nations and other reputable international structures.

At the same time, great efforts are being made to tap into the mutual economic and resource potential in order to successfully integrate our countries into the global economic space, create conditions for modern technological development, and expand cultural dialogue.

Stressing that Turkmenistan is firmly committed to further strengthening fraternal, friendly ties with Kazakhstan, and is ready to continue working together in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres, the head of the Turkmen state expressed confidence that today's talks will open up great opportunities for bringing bilateral cooperation to a qualitatively new level.

Thanking for the invitation to visit Ashgabat and the warm welcome, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed that Turkmenistan is a very close country and strategic partner for Kazakhstan. The Kazakh leader also noted the importance of regular bilateral meetings at the highest level, which serve as a solid basis for expanding multifaceted cooperation.

Kazakhstan has been and remains a reliable ally of Turkmenistan on all issues mentioned during the meeting, be it energy, transport, logistics, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said. At the same time, the personal merit of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in strengthening and developing interstate relations was particularly noted.

Following the talks, which took place in a confidential atmosphere and in a constructive manner, Presidents Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed a wide range of issues of Turkmen-Kazakh cooperation in the context of the implementation of previously reached agreements and promising plans for the future.

The sides also exchanged views on a number of topical issues on the regional and global agenda of mutual interest.

Further negotiations continued in the Soltan Sanjar hall in an expanded format, with the participation of members of the official delegations of the two countries.

The history of relations between the peoples of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan dates back many centuries. During this time, truly fraternal ties have been formed. The two states and peoples are united not only by geography, but also by the awareness of the inseparability of historical destinies. We profess common values, carefully preserve and honor the traditions inherited from our ancestors, which form the basis of our worldview and high moral principles, the head of Turkmenistan said.

A vivid symbol of friendship and brotherhood of our peoples was the opening this year of monuments to outstanding personalities – the Turkmen poet, philosopher and thinker Makhtumkuli Fragi in the capital of Kazakhstan – Astana, and the Kazakh poet, philosopher and educator Abai Kunanbayuly in Ashgabat. In this regard, it is noteworthy that the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag took part in the solemn ceremonies dedicated to these events.

As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov further noted, the current level of trust and mutual understanding allows our countries to confidently build their relations for the future, coordinate approaches on key issues of international policy, form long-term plans for cooperation in the economy, trade, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

Today we confirm our readiness for further close partnership, both in bilateral and multilateral formats, in order to preserve and maintain universal peace and stability, counter global risks and threats, ensure sustainable development, and resolve humanitarian issues, the head of Turkmenistan stressed.

As for trade and economic cooperation, the Republic of Kazakhstan is a long-term and reliable partner of our country in this area. In this regard, the Head of Turkmenistan highly appreciated the achieved level of cooperation in various sectors and the accumulated experience at the government and departmental levels. In general, the partnership in this area is developing consistently, with a tendency to qualitative growth.

At the same time, it was noted that there is a vast space for more effective realization of mutual potential. Turkmenistan also expects to continue and expand cooperation in the energy sector. A major energy project has already been implemented in the total asset – the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline. In this regard, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov confirmed our country's readiness to consider, together with our Kazakh partners, opportunities for a noticeable increase in energy supplies and expansion of their transit configuration.

Transport and logistics are also a strategic area of partnership, which is due to the extensive capabilities of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan in the formation of transport and transit corridors along the East-West and North-South lines. Here, our country fully shares the initiatives on the need to lay transcontinental highways through the territory of Central Asia.

Among other areas where our countries can actively cooperate, the head of Turkmenistan highlighted the agro-industrial complex, the chemical industry, mechanical engineering, textile production, and a number of other industries.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also expressed his conviction that the creation of Turkmen-Kazakh border trade zones will serve as an important step in the process of further enhancing bilateral trade and economic partnership, including by increasing mutual supplies of agricultural and household appliances, food products, construction materials, and petrochemical industry products.

Stressing that today's meeting confirmed the determination of the two states to continue to do everything necessary to expand cooperation, as evidenced by the solid package of documents prepared for signing, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and all members of the Kazakh delegation for their constructivism, readiness for an interested and substantive discussion of strategic partnership issues.

At the end of the extended talks, a signing ceremony of bilateral documents was held in the Seljuk han Hall.

At the end of the signing ceremony, the heads of the two states addressed the representatives of the media.

Source: State News Agency