The talks between Presidents Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and Islam Karimov

On October 8, the Uzbek capital hosted the talks between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.

In the first half of the day, the official ceremony of welcoming the high Turkmen guest took place at the “Kuksaroy” state guest residence. Here, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov cordially welcomed President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov.

After the official welcoming ceremony, the Presidents of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan proceeded to the Fireplace Hall of the residence tohold the talks in the “one-on-one” format.

In the course of talks which were held in the atmosphere of understanding and trust, the Presidents of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan discussed a broad range of issues concerning the current state and prospects of the Turkmen-Uzbek cooperation in its key trends in the context of realization of the earlier reached bilateral agreements, priorities of socio-economic development of the two countries and plans for the future.

During the meeting, the counterparts also discussed a number of topical issues of regional and international interest-based policy.

Further, the talks continued in the Congress Hall in the enlarged format with participation of members of the two countries’ official delegations.

Highly assessing the results of the “one-on-one” negotiations, President Islam Karimov noted that at the present summit, held in the spirit of understanding and constructivism, an extensive exchange of views was held on a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues, as well as key priorities of the future-orientated cooperation have been identified.

Noting that the Republic of Uzbekistan supports the constructive foreign policy course and constructive international initiatives of independent neutral Turkmenistan, President Islam Karimov has confirmed the Uzbek side’s adherence to the traditional partnership with our country in the framework of the authoritative international organizations, including the UN. Thereupon, the two countries’ similarity of approaches to all issues considered was noted.

The leader of Uzbekistan welcomed the Turkmen side’s unbiased approaches and practical initiatives aimed at strengthening the system of regional and international security, peace and harmony, extension of integration processes, development of reliable, diversified and economically feasible transport-communications systems and energy corridors, climate change and environment protection.

The head of Uzbekistan also spoke for continuation of the consistent implementation of the Agreement made between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan for economic cooperation for 2013-2017, for rendering support to the development of mutuality-based partnership between the two countries’ business communities, as well as facilitating their participation in exhibitions and fairs held in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

President Islam Karimov has focused on the practical implementation of the Ashgabat Agreement for establishing of the Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Oman transport route, which will significantly increase international transit cargo traffic and provide a new communications corridor to the world markets.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, President Islam Karimov congratulated heartily President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov on the upcoming significant dates –the 24th anniversary of independence and the 20th anniversary of permanent neutrality status of Turkmenistan, which is, according to the Uzbek leader, is rightfully considered to be one of the most dynamically developing states of the world in the modern epoch.

In turn, noting that today, the issues of strengthening regional security are out on the forefront in the foreign policy sphere, the head of Turkmen state has expressed belief that based on understanding and coincidence of views on the regional processes, Turkmen-Uzbek cooperation objectively acts as a key component in the implementation of this task.

Further, as the Turkmen leader noted, during negotiations, the parties had traditionally paid great attention to settling the situation in Afghanistan, which is possible only by peaceful, political means, on the basis of nationwide dialogue with participation of all responsible and constructive Afghan forces.

Designating the energy sector as the strategic direction of the bilateral partnership, the Turkmen leader noted that the talk was, first of all, about construction of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-China gas pipeline with annual capacity of up to 25 BCM.

President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has confirmed Turkmenistan’s readiness to integrate efforts in implementing the Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Caspian Sea – South Caucasus corridor with an outlet to the Black Sea ports of Georgia, Turkey, Romania and other countries.

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are the participants of the Agreement signed in April 2011 in Ashgabat on creating the Central Asia – Near East international transport-transit corridor. It’s time to start solving practical issues of the promising project, said the head of state, offering to intensify joint work in this direction.

In the context of diversification of continental transport flows, Turkmenistan is also ready and interested in considering the possibilities of constructing the Central Asia – China railway, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov stated.

We think it’s necessary to intensify cooperation at the bilateral level and in the international format on the environmental problematics, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said. In this context, Turkmenistan proposes to specify the work on creating the specialized structures on a permanent basis in the region of Central Asia. These structures would Address the issue of international cooperation in the environment-oriented sector.

Focusing on the untapped enormous potential of the Turkmen-Uzbek trade and economic relations, the head of Turkmen state called for their further expansion.

Identifying the tourism industry among the especially popular areas of mutually beneficial cooperation, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov invited Uzbek partners to participate in implementation of joint investment projects on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea, in the “Avaza” health resort zone.

The head of Turkmen state has recognized the advisability of establishing systemic interaction in the sphere of tourism and in joint programs in the field of international tourism; and, in the future – to think of creating, the common travel space – on the basis of common tourist routes and logistic facilities.

The head of state also called for strengthening of fruitful relations between the legislative authorities of the two countries, for establishing regular parliamentary delegations exchange.

In conclusion, once more, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted with satisfaction the progressive character of Turkmen-Uzbek relations, their upward trend of development.

Upon completion of the negotiations in the enlarged format, a ceremony of signing bilateral documents was held in the Press-Conference Hall.

The documents signed are: the Memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan and “UzbekistonTemirYollari” Joint-stock Company; Agreement for mutual assistance in customs affairs between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan; the contract between the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan and “Uzprommashimpeks” Joint-stock Company; a Contract between the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan and the “Samarkand automobile plant” limited liability company; a Contract between the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan and “Generalmotors Uzbekistan” Joint-stock Company; a Program of cooperation in the field of tourism between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2016-2018; a Program of cooperation in the field of healthcare and sports between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2016-2018; a Program of scientific-technical cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2016-2018; Protocol on introducing amendments to the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the checkpoints across the State border (October 18, 2007); the Memorandum for cooperation between the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the University of World Economy and Diplomacy of the Republic of Uzbekistan; the Memorandum on major principles of cooperation in the sphere of transport between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

To the applause of the ceremony attendees, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov have subscribed the Joint Statement.

On completion of the documents signing ceremony, the leaders of both countries made a statement to the mass media.

In the evening, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan gave an official dinner in honor of the high Turkmen guest during which the heads of both states exchanged speeches.

Upon its completion, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov proceeded to the International airport of Tashkent to depart for his Motherland.

After some time, the presidential airliner landed at the International airport of Turkmenbashi city of Balkan velayat. The nation’s leader arrived in the velayat in connection with his incipient working trip to the western region of the country. In the airport the head of state was welcomed by the officials. From the airport, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov left for his residence.

 

State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)