Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas, who was on an official visit to Ashgabat, held a briefing for journalists, reported the “Neutral Turkmenistan” newspaper.

Margaritis Schinas, at the head of the European Union delegation, has been in Turkmenistan since January 17 within the framework of a tour of Central Asia. The visit preceded the Europe-Central Asia Investors Forum, the goal of which is to strengthen ties through the development of transport routes within Central Asia and the European Union.

The results of the visit were highlighted at the briefing.

The diplomat gave a brief overview of the visit, touching on the relevance of giving a new impetus to EU cooperation with the countries of Central Asia. Attention was also paid to the issue of effective use of the Global Gateway initiative, within the framework of which investments and individual projects can be implemented. In addition, prospects and options for cooperation between the EU and Turkmenistan were noted.

“For the first time in history, a member of the European Commission visited all five Central Asian countries at once. On behalf of the EU, we are participating so actively because positive changes are taking place here. And for us in the EU this is really important as the world around us becomes increasingly unstable. It is important for us that in this part of the world there is the ability and spirit of positive change”, - Schinas emphasized.

He also expressed his commitment to medium- and long-term cooperation with the region and Turkmenistan in particular.

“We are here to remain as partners in building a better world in geopolitics, and as a catalyst for economic reform, infrastructure development, cooperation in the field of raw materials and the protection of water and natural resources”.

The diplomat, speaking about the main goal of his tour of the countries of Central Asia, said the following:

“I came to put forward a meaningful program of investment, growth in the field of connectivity. For this we have a new tool - Global Gateway. We are talking about attracting investment, including international financial institutions, private investors, and creating jobs. Central Asia is ideally suited to leverage the Global Gateway initiative as it is a natural bridge connecting East to West”.

Answering questions from journalists about the prospects for cooperation with Turkmenistan, the Vice-President of the European Commission said that during meetings with the President of the country Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, key issues such as cooperation in the EU- Central Asia, the involvement of Central Asian countries in the EU Global Gateway initiative, as well as the participation of Turkmenistan in the Europe-Central Asia Investor Forum.

“President Serdar Berdimuhamedov demonstrated his wide awareness of our initiative, and I was pleased to hear that the head of state is fully committed to the logic of the Global Gateway. I also briefed the President on the role that the European Investment Bank can play in facilitating the conclusion of a country framework agreement with Turkmenistan, which will open the door to further investment”, - the diplomat said.

The Vice-President of the European Commission expressed confidence that the implementation by the European Union of new approaches to partnership with Turkmenistan will become a solid basis for the further development of effective joint activities, the source notes.