By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) – Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on Thursday signed 20 documents to bolster intergovernmental ties and bilateral cooperation during Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to the capital Ashgabat.
A statement from the Kazakh presidential press service Akorda said the documents, which include agreements to deepen cooperation in the investment, transport, logistics, agriculture, and culture sectors, were signed by delegations from both countries following talks between Tokayev and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow.
“Turkmenistan is a very close country to us (and) a natural strategic partner. I would like to say that Kazakhstan has been and remains a reliable ally of Turkmenistan on all the issues that you mentioned, be it energy, transport, logistics, cultural and humanitarian cooperation,” Tokayev was quoted as saying during a narrow-format meeting with Berdimuhamedow.
He said Kazakhstan respects Turkmenistan's neutral status in international politics and that Ashgabat contributes significantly to regional and international security.
“We are ready to closely interact with each other, primarily within the UN and other international organizations,” he added.
Berdimuhamedow, for his part, expressed his country’s gratitude to Kazakhstan for its support of Turkmenistan's neutral foreign policy, as well as its international initiatives put forward within the UN and other international structures.
“In turn, Turkmenistan supports the foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. We also attach particular importance to the development of trade and economic ties between our countries,” Berdimuhamedow said, indicating that they continue to jointly work in areas such as energy, transport, trade, and agriculture.