As part of the official visit to Tajikistan, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also held a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic Kohir Rasulzoda, TDH reports.

During the meeting, the parties discussed interaction in the field of trade and economic cooperation. The National Leader of the Turkmen people proposed to take coordinated measures to ensure growth in volumes and diversification of the range of trade turnover, including by promoting the development of direct ties between private companies and business circles. Along with this, it was proposed to take effective steps towards the practical implementation of the project to open trading houses in the capitals of the two states.

The readiness to consider the possibility of implementing the first pilot project to create a textile factory in Tajikistan with the participation of Turkmen companies was also confirmed. Turkmenistan is ready to organize a meeting of the relevant ministries and departments of the two countries to study and discuss this issue.

It was emphasized that in the development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation, an important role is assigned to the Joint Intergovernmental Commission, as well as the Turkmen-Tajik Business Council.

Continuing the meeting, the National Leader of the Turkmen people and the Prime Minister of Tajikistan emphasized a number of key areas of interstate cooperation discussed during negotiations with President Emomali Rahmon.

As Chairman Halk Maslahaty noted, we are talking about the formation of a transport route in the direction of Tajikistan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey, as well as the possibility of organizing a multimodal transport corridor from China to Turkmenistan through the territories of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with access to the ports of the Caspian Sea and the Persian bay.

Proper work is also being carried out in the field of railway and road transport, and the necessary measures are being implemented to increase the volume of freight turnover between the two states. Particular attention is paid to the issue of cargo transit. Thanks to the steps taken in this area, the level of cargo transportation is steadily growing.

In the context of the topic of transport communications, the National Leader of the Turkmen people also spoke about the advisability of continuing to study the possibilities of resuming direct and transit air flights between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed considering the energy sector as one of the promising areas of cooperation. We are talking, in particular, about the supply of Turkmen electricity and natural gas to Tajikistan through the territory of Uzbekistan. At the same time, the countries’ experience of partnership in the field of electricity was noted.

The Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty confirmed the readiness of Turkmenistan to resume such interaction and implement it on a systematic basis, as well as discuss in detail technical, organizational and other issues of electricity and natural gas supplies. Here, if necessary, it seems advisable to organize a trilateral meeting with the participation of experts from the Uzbek side.

Turkmenistan also cooperates with Tajikistan in the field of supplies of Turkmen oil products and is ready to increase their volumes depending on the needs of the Tajik side.

There is also great untapped potential for cooperation in the agricultural sector. In this regard, it was proposed to consider the possibility of deepening partnership in the agro-industrial complex, which, in particular, concerns mutual supplies of agricultural products on a systematic basis. For this, the parties have the necessary conditions, including the legal framework. It is proposed to implement this direction, including with the involvement of representatives of private companies and entrepreneurs of the two countries.

Systematic Turkmen-Tajik cooperation is also carried out in the field of water management, within the framework of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea. It seems appropriate to intensify this area of partnership with the participation of other relevant parties, noted the National Leader of the Turkmen people.

During the meeting, the interlocutors also paid attention to the humanitarian aspect of cooperation, confirming their readiness to further develop interstate ties in the fields of culture, science, education, healthcare and sports. It was noted that holding mutual Days of Culture has become a good tradition. Of particular importance here is the fact that Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are united by a common history, cultural and spiritual values that have developed over centuries.

In this context, National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that this year the 300th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi is widely celebrated at the international level. In this regard, the International Conference of Ministers of Culture will be held in Ashgabat in May, and the International Forum of Heads of State and Government dedicated to the anniversary will be held in October. Turkmenistan hopes that delegations from Tajikistan will take part in these events.

It was also noted that positive dynamics are inherent in bilateral cooperation in the field of education. An example of fraternal relations in this area is also the construction of a secondary school named after Magtymguly in the Dusti district of Khatlon region.