Tajik president discusses bilateral ties, economic cooperation with Turkmen counterpart

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on Wednesday discussed bilateral ties and cooperation with his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who arrived in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe on an official visit.

“At the meeting, which took place in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding, the heads of state considered in detail a wide range of interstate relations between the two countries and exchanged views on pressing issues of international and regional agenda,” a statement by the Tajik presidency read.

The statement said the discussions between the leaders began in a narrow format and continued in an expanded format, during which Rahmon expressed confidence that Berdimuhamedov’s visit will give a “new impetus” to the development of bilateral ties.

It further said the two leaders reviewed issues related to the sustainable development of cooperation between the two countries in the political, commercial, economic, cultural, and humanitarian spheres.

It also underlined inter-parliamentary cooperation as an important part of multifaceted relations.

“The issues of trade and economic cooperation were touched upon in detail, and the parties agreed to take necessary measures for the further development of this aspect of relations. In this context, the parties paid attention to such areas of cooperation as industrial cooperation, energy and agriculture sectors, transport and communication,” the statement also said.

The meeting stressed that there are many opportunities in the field of industrial cooperation especially concerning the implementation of joint projects in the fields of light industry, production of construction materials, metallurgy, and mutual supply of raw materials, it added.

The two presidents also discussed cooperation in the transport and transit sector, as well as issues related to the humanitarian sector, with a focus on further expanding relations in the fields of culture, education, science, sports, and tourism, the statement also said.

“The parties exchanged opinions in detail on a set of pressing issues of regional and international nature. … During the highest-level meeting and negotiations of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the parties also had a fruitful discussion on other issues of interest,” it concluded.