National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as part of an official visit to Azerbaijan, met with the Chairperson of the National Parliament (Milli Majlis) of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reports.

The meeting took place in the Great Assembly Hall of the Azerbaijani Parliament. Sahiba Gafarova informed the Turkmen delegation about the activities of the Milli Majlis and conducted a tour of the Parliament Museum, where Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov left a note in the Book of Distinguished Guests.

During the talks with the participation of delegations from both countries, the National Leader of the Turkmen people expressed confidence that the meeting would serve as an important impetus for deepening Turkmen-Azerbaijani relations, including through parliamentary diplomacy in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the parliaments of the two countries.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted the strategic nature of the multifaceted relations between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan that have been developing over many years. He stressed the need to intensify the work of friendship groups created in the parliaments of the two countries to build up inter-parliamentary dialogue.

"Today, the role of parliaments in protecting peace, ensuring security, and restoring the culture of respectful dialogue is very important," Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said. According to him, parliamentarians of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan can together make a significant contribution to achieving these goals and work on issues on the global agenda.

The National Leader of the Turkmen people also emphasized the importance of inter-parliamentary dialogue, gender equality, women's and youth diplomacy. He proposed that Azerbaijani parliamentarians, together with their Turkmen colleagues, develop an algorithm for interaction in these areas.

Expressing confidence in the broad prospects for strengthening bilateral cultural, scientific and educational cooperation, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed considering the possibility of organizing youth scientific and educational forums under the auspices of the parliaments of the two countries.

"Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are fraternal states. Our peoples are united not only by geography, but also by common history, language, culture and values," the National Leader of the Turkmen people noted. He expressed his readiness to do everything necessary for the further development of interstate relations and strengthening of ties between the Turkmen and Azerbaijani peoples.