The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, welcomed the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who is taking part in the CIS summit in Astana for the first time, reports MIA “Kazinform”.

“Esteemed Serdar Gurbangulyyevich! On behalf of the colleagues present and on my own behalf, I would like to greet you and wish you success in your responsible state activities for the benefit of the fraternal Turkmen people”, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in his welcoming speech.

The President of Kazakhstan declared open the meeting of the CIS heads of state, which is attended by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as the Chairman of the Executive Committee - the Executive Secretary of the CIS.

Tokayev noted that important issues related to humanitarian partnership, security and other aspects of cooperation were submitted for consideration by the Council of Heads of State.

In the afternoon, Serdar Berdimuhamedov will participate in the first “Central Asia-Russia” summit, and on October 15 he is scheduled to make his first state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan since taking office as President of Turkmenistan in March this year. It is expected that during it the heads of the two states will discuss the current state and prospects for cooperation, building up strategic cooperation, as well as important issues on the agenda.