Russian President visits Ashgabat
New Europe, 31.10.2010
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev paid an official two-day visit to Turkmenistan on 21-22 October to discuss cooperation with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov Turkmenistan.ru reported.This is Medvedevs fourth visit to Turkmenistan the previous ones were held in July 2008 September and December 2009.The Kremlin press service reports that positive and trustful relations between the leaders of the two countries make it possible to discuss and find a constructive solution to any question.The high-profile talks touched a range of issues related to bilateral cooperation such as the fuel and energy sector agriculture transport telecommunications as well as prospects for expanding production cooperation and deliveries of engineering products.
Special attention was paid to trade and economic cooperation.In 2009 bilateral trade turnover without gas supplies exceeded one billion dollars January-August $577.3 million .At present Turkmenistan has 138 ventures with Russian capital; 124 joint projects worth about one billion Euro have been registered in the republic.Several Russian companies are actively working in the Turkmen market.They are joint-stock companies Strojtransgaz Itera Kamaz and Mobile Telesystems.
At the meeting Berdimuhamedov emphasized the importance of further intensifying the Turkmen-Russian dialogue.He also emphasized of elevating the interstate relations between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation to the next level corresponding to modern realities and opportunities for mutually productive cooperation.He noted that along with great prospects of partnership in trade and economic sphere and the oil and gas sector which are strategic for both countries strengthening relations in the spheres of education science and culture tourism and sports is of particular importance.
The Russian and Turkmen presidents also discussed cooperation within the framework of the CIS and SCO exchange views on urgent regional and international problems including the situation in Afghanistan and the Central Asian region.The Inter-Governmental Commission for economic cooperation will hold its fifth regular meeting in Ashgabad in November.Fuel and energy cooperation is a vital subject on bilateral agenda.As usual special attention will be paid to education.The existing legal foundation has created a good basis for further cooperation in the humanitarian sphere....
