President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrived in Astana to participate in the VI Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia. According to the Kazinform agency, the head of Turkmenistan was met by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov.

The visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov takes place against the backdrop of the active development of trade and economic relations between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Over the past five years, the volume of mutual trade between the countries has quadrupled, and over the past year it grew by 28%.

Particular attention is paid to cooperation in the gas industry and transit and transport sphere. A number of major projects for the reconstruction and construction of highways are being implemented, including the construction of a new highway “border of Kazakhstan - Garabogaz - Turkmenbashy” with a length of 225 kilometers and a new bridge across the Garabogazgol Bay. A project for the reconstruction of the 165-kilometer section of the Zhanaozen –Turkmenistan border highway is also being considered.

It is expected that during the Consultative Meeting, the heads of state will discuss further prospects for regional cooperation and strengthening ties between the countries of Central Asia.