Chairman of the Union of Economists of Turkmenistan (SET), representative of the Coordinating Council of the International Union of Economists Yuri Aronsky shared his opinion on the development of bilateral relations between Turkmenistan and Russia in CentralAsia.news today.

The expert noted that since gaining independence in 1991, relations between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation have always been of a strategic nature.

Important agreements were the “Agreement on Expanding Strategic Cooperation in the Field of energy and Mechanical Engineering” dated December 22, 2009 and the interstate “Strategic Partnership Agreement” signed on October 2, 2017 in

Ashgabat, which entered into force in August 2018. They clearly outline the principles of the Russian-Turkmen partnership.

Over 170 agreements have been adopted in thirty years.

Aronsky cites as an example the statements of the leaders of the two states on this occasion. Thus, the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov notes:

“Relations between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation are based on a solid foundation of good neighborliness, equality and mutual respect. They are based on clear and understandable principles, awareness of the huge bilateral potential in maintaining peace and security, developing trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The Turkmen-Russian cooperation has a strategic character, it is not subject to external conjuncture, it is an important factor of stability and sustainability of processes both in the region and around the world.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin stresses:

“Russia is one of the leading trade and economic partners of Turkmenistan. Inter-parliamentary ties are developing, and, of course, great importance is attached to economic cooperation.”

And, indeed, Russia has been Turkmenistan's closest economic partner for all the time of its independent formation. During the global pandemic, Turkmenistan became one of the few countries with which the trade turnover of the Russian Federation in 2020 not only did not fall, but increased by another 40%, and reached one billion dollars, adds Yuri Aronsky.

The expert also recalled that the leading Russian companies “KAMAZ”, “Vozrozhdenie”, “LUKOIL” are currently actively represented on the Turkmen market. As for “LUKOIL”, it will take part in the development of the Turkmen-Azerbaijani “Dostluk” field, he stressed.

The “Agreement on cooperation with Turkmenistan in the field of security”, submitted by Vladimir Putin to the State Duma last year, provides for the preservation and strengthening of peace and stability in Central Asia and the entire Caspian region, as well as cooperation in the field of environmental safety and environmental protection.

All these events and facts speak about the high level of state relations and the importance of interaction between the countries and that their positive development continues successfully, the analyst concluded.