OREANDA-NEWS. November 30, 2009. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov paid a working visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of RF President Dmitriy Medvedev. The Turkmen leader’s visit was paid in accordance with the agreements reached by the leaders of two courtiers on regular consultations and exchange of views on the important aspects of bilateral international partnership.

In the morning the President’s plan landed at the Vnukovo-2 Airport. The Russian government ministers and diplomats and the officials of the Embassy of Turkmenistan to Russia greeted the Turkmen leader at the airport. Then the helicopter took the Turkmen leader to the RF President’s country residence – Rus in Zavidovo near Moscow.

The leader of the Turkmen state was heartily welcomed at the residence by his Russian counterpart Dmitriy Medvedev.

The leaders of two states held the working meeting in the atmosphere of mutual understanding, minimum official formalities and maximum friendly businesslike conversation. Exchanging the heartfelt greetings the leaders of the friendly countries expressed belief that this meting would a new step to further intensify fruitful partnership between Turkmenistan and Russia

At the beginning of the meeting Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed condolences to the President of Russia on behalf of the Turkmen people for the crash of Nevsky Express train, which had caused numerous human casualties.

During the meeting the Presidents put emphasis on the effectiveness of bilateral partnership, highly evaluated the dynamic growth of trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Russia. This characteristic feature of Turkmen-Russian cooperation that had been maintained despite global economic crisis vividly illustrated the profound potential of building comprehensively Turkmen-Russia trade and economic cooperation as nothing else.

The meeting between Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Dmitriy Medvedev took place relatively recently, in early autumn in Turkmenbashi town on the Caspian Sea coast though, the dynamics of relations made it necessary to re-check ‘the presidential clocks’. This time the fields of mutual interest put the issues relating to enhancement of trade and economic cooperation between two countries, implementation of the joint energy, transport, education and cultural projects on the agenda.

The leaders noted that a major objective of the development of cooperation at the current stage was to diversify trade turnover and increase deliveries of high-tech products and processing products.

Much attention was given to energy industry – the priority sector of both countries as well as the prospects for cooperation in agriculture, transport and telecommunications sectors, expansion of production partnership and deliveries of engineering products. The issues of further expansion of humanitarian cooperation, particularly in the spheres of culture, sports, education and personnel training were discussed.

The sides noted that the intergovernmental Turkmen-Russia commission for economic cooperation played an important role strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations. The fourth meting took place commission in Moscow this October.

During the talks Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Dmitriy Medvedev focused on the effectiveness of interregional cooperation through using the practice of establishing contacts between Tatarstan, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan Oblast and Turkmen partners. To date, 60 constituent regions of the Russian Federation have established close cooperation with Turkmenistan that makes up a major part of the bilateral trade turnover.

The effectiveness of bilateral partnership established between Turkmenistan and Russia at a new historical stage was vividly evidenced by the membership of the Russian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov that took part in the CIS Agricultural Forum in Ashgabat.

The busy schedule included an excursion around the Rus State Country Residence. The RF President accompanied the leader of Turkmenistan.

In the afternoon Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Dmitriy Anatolyevich continued the talks to review the progress in implementing the important joint projects aimed at intensifying partnership built on mutual confidence, equality and maximum respect to mutual interests.

The sides exchanged views on the ways to coordinate the actions of Russia and Turkmenistan at the global and regional levels on such vital topics as control of international terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized crime. Particular attention was paid to the situation in Afghanistan as well as diversified cooperation in the framework of the CIS and the Caspian 5.

Upon concluding the talks the sides expressed belief that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s working visit would promote enhancing partnership in a wide spectrum of the fields of mutual interest.

Highly evaluating the effectiveness of the regular dialogue at this level, the Turkmen leader invited his counterpart to make a return visit to Turkmenistan in the near future. The invitation was accepted with gratitude.

In the evening Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov bade the heartfelt farewell to Dmitriy Medvedev. The helicopter took the Turkmen leader to Vnukovo from where the Boeing took the leader of Turkmenistan to Ashgabat.

At the Ashgabat International Airport the Speaker of the Mejlis, the Vice Premiers, the high-ranking military and law enforcement officials met the Turkmen leader.