OREANDA-NEWS. November 20, 2008. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmed Badawi who had arrived in the Turkmen capital on an official visit held the talks in Ashgabat

The high-ranking government official greeted he honorary guest at the Ashgabat International Airport decorated with the national flags of two friendly countries.

Upon arriving the Prime Minister of Malaysia attended the ceremony of opening the Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan – 2008 Exhibition and visited the exposition.

In the afternoon the President of Turkmenistan and the Prime Minister of Malaysia held the talks at the new official residence of the Turkmen leader

Greeting the honorary guest Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that he was glad to welcome the head of the Government of friendly Malaysia that Turkmenistan had established and actively developed fruitful contacts with. Standing steadfast to the open door policy Turkmenistan attached special importance to enhancement of constructive collaboration particularly with the neighbouring countries on the Asian continent The President said that Turkmenistan and Malaysia had the positive experience of co-operation that based on its profound potential had every chance to grow into full-scale mutually advantageous partnership.

Thanking for the heartfelt and hospitable welcome and noting that Malaysia viewed Turkmenistan as a fraternal state Mr. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi informed of Malaysia’s intention to the intensify the intergovernmental dialogue in the interests of both peoples. Focusing on the intense interest of the Government and business circles in Malaysia in intensifying business co-operation the Prime Minister said that it was conditioned by Turkmenistan’s profound resource and economic potential and the Turkmen leader’s reformative policy guaranteeing social and political stability in the country.

The sides harmonized the views on the essential aspects of co-operation and the approaches to the further strategy of expanding it. In this context the sides considered a broad range of the issues on intensification of collaboration in the priority fields including trade and economy, fuel and energy sector and humanitarian sphere, in particular education. The President and his guest emphasized that the age-old ties of friendship between the two peoples bound with the common cultural and spiritual traditions and the similarity of views on the problems of the modern world served as the solid foundation of the Turkmen-Malaysian dialogue.

Then the government delegations of Turkmenistan and Malaysia joined in the talks.

Cordially greeting the guests President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave the floor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Expressing sincere gratitude on behalf of the Malaysian delegation for the heartfelt welcome and hospitality Mr. Abdullah Ahmed Badawi said that he was very glad to visit Ashgabat – a wonderful city that he first visited in 1994. The guest noted that the capital of Turkmenistan rapidly grew and developed that vividly illustrated the progress of the whole country.

Touching upon the aims of the visit the Prime Minister reaffirmed Malaysia’s intention to maintain overall co-operation with Turkmenistan noting that the relations between two independent countries had been developed for 16 years. This dialogue was of paramount importance as to implementation of Malaysia’s foreign policy strategy aimed at establishing constructive contacts with the countries worldwide including the Organisation of the Islamic Conference member states. Focusing with satisfaction on the increased dynamics of the Turkmen-Malaysian dialogue the Prime Minister noted that his country stood ready to further co-operation on the basis of the existing opportunities and common approaches to the issues of global peace and security. The guest said that both Turkmenistan and Malaysia had the splendid perspectives to deepen partnership in the trade and economic, financial and investment spheres. The Prime Minister informed that after he returned to the homeland he would recommend the businessmen to visit Turkmenistan so that they could evaluate the country’s potential and the perspectives of fruitful collaboration. Mr. Abdullah Ahmed Badawi also invited Turkmen businessmen to visit Malaysia to establish direct business contacts. Emphasizing that the Malaysian Government would favour intensification of the Turkmen-Malaysian dialogue the Prime Minister thanked Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for supporting the Petronas Company which had been successfully operating on the Turkmen energy market for over 10 years and hope for the continuation of this exceptionally fruitful co-operation.

Mr. Abdullah Ahmed Badawi said that the vast opportunities of partnership were opened up in tourism industry. The Malaysian companies stood ready to offer the profound expertise in this field to Turkmenistan. Moreover, co-operation deemed to be very promising in the sphere of urban development, road construction, transport and telecommunication in which Malaysia had advanced technologies and manufacturing capabilities. The Prime Minister said that the intergovernmental document to be signed upon concluding the talks would foster effective collaboration and strengthen the legal foundation of bilateral co-operation. The guest noted that a major field of Turkmen-Malaysian partnership was the sphere of education where the partners had accumulated the profound experience and intended to enrich with new undertakings and projects.

The Prime Minister invited the President of Turkmenistan to pay an official visit to visit Malaysia at any convenient time

Thanking for the invitation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that having gained the impressive achievements and playing the key role on the geopolitical arena in Southeast Asia Malaysia ranked among the priorities of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy strategy. The President said that there was every reason for that – the spirit of friendship, mutual confidence and understanding typical of the Turkmen-Malaysian intergovernmental dialogue and expressed gratitude to the leadership of Malaysia for supporting Turkmenistan’s international initiatives, in particular the opening of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia and adoption on the UN special resolution “Reliable and Stable Energy Transit and Its Role in Guaranteeing Economic Development and International Cooperation”.

The Turkmen leader noted the vast opportunities were opened up in the economic sphere. Citing the Petronas Company as an example of the Malaysian company successfully operating on the Turkmen market Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the countries had laid the reliable foundation for developing mutually advantageous partnership particularly in the fuel and energy sector. Inviting the Malaysian companies to co-operate the President emphasized that the conditions including the favourable investment climate and stability of the domestic financial market conducive to foreign business had been created in Turkmenistan.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan was interested in the investments in high-technology sectors of the national economy, in particular energy industry, communication and telecommunication, transport, processing sector. The Turkmen leader said that the country was open for close humanitarian co-operation particularly in the sphere of education, science, healthcare, sport and tourism. The President thanked the Malaysian partners in training highly qualified specialists for Turkmen economy. In particular, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov welcomed the decision of the Petronas University of Technology to increase an admission of Turkmen young people to 15 students each year.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the forums, exhibition, festivals, days of culture standing as the key factors for bringing different peoples together would perform the noble mission of strengthening the bridges of co-operation between Turkmenistan and Malaysia.

In conclusion the President expressed belief that these talks would open a new page in the history of the Turkmen-Malaysian relations and attach new dynamics and fill it with new content.

Upon concluding the talks eth ceremony of signing the Intergovernmental Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Income Tax Evasion was held.

Upon concluding the ceremony the President of Turkmenistan and the Prime Minister of Malaysia bade cordial farewell to each other and expressed wishes of peace, happiness and welfare to the peoples of Turkmenistan and Malaysia.