OREANDA-NEWS. December 15, 2009. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrived on an official visit to the Turkmen capital. As was reported, the Uzbek leader’s visit was timed to the remarkable event – the ceremony of putting the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline that crossed the territory of the neighbouring countries including Uzbekistan into operation.

The official persons greeted the honorary guest at the Ashgabat International Airport decorated with the national flags of the two friendly states. The bread and salt were offered to the Uzbek leader.

From the airport the President’s cortege headed for the official residence at the Serdar Hotel.

Few hours later President Islam Karimov had a meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the building of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan.

Upon concluding the official greeting ceremony the leaders of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan entered the building of the Cabinet of Ministers – the temporary residence of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. After having a traditional photograph taken against the background of the national flags of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan the leaders of two countries held the one-on-one talks in the Fireplace Hall.

In the atmosphere of mutual understanding and confidence and in a very extremely constructive way the Presidents discussed the progress in implementing the agreements and exchanged views on the important aspects of bilateral cooperation and the regional and international issues of mutual interest.

A focus of the talks was collaboration in the energy sector. In this context the sides underscored the importance of putting the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline that would be an effective factor of the social and economic progress of the countries-participants of this grandiose project into operation.

Expressing profound satisfaction with the progressive development of the Turkmen-Uzbek relations, two leaders reaffirmed the commitments of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to full-scale cooperation.

Then the government delegations of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan joined in the talks.

Greeting heartily the honorary Uzbek guest and the members of the government delegation of the neighbouring country, the Turkmen leader thanked the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for accepting the invitation to visit Turkmenistan on an official visit. Thanking the leader and the people of Uzbekistan for the fraternal attitude toward Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed sincere gratitude for the heartfelt welcome and hospitality extended during the official visit of President of Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan this February. The Turkmen leader said that the Turkmen-Uzbek summit in Tashkent became an important step to strengthen and expand the bilateral relations, establish new forms of fruitful collaboration.

Noting that Turkmenistan viewed this visit as a landmark event illustrating the progress in the traditionally friendly and good neighbourly intergovernmental dialogue Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that this meeting was being held in the context of intensified Turkmen-Uzbek partnership in the whole spectrum. The positive nature of the political dialogue between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, said the Turkmen leader, to a larger extent was conditioned by the regular contacts at the top and the intergovernmental levels, effective collaboration between the government and public organisations. In this context the Turkmen President characterized the active mutual and support that were always intrinsic of bilateral relations.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan highly appreciated Uzbekistan’s respect for Turkmenistan’s neutral status and the foreign policy strategy of our country that actively contributed to maintaining global peace, security and sustainable development. Expressing gratitude to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for actively supporting Turkmenistan’s international initiatives and proposals, the leader of the Turkmen state emphasized that Turkmenistan respected Uzbekistan’s position on a world arena.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov continued that an important aspect of Turkmen-Uzbek partnership was close collaboration in the strategic fuel and energy sector noting that the large-scale international energy project – the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline had been completed. A large amount of natural gas would be piped along this route on a long-term basis to the People’s Republic of China. The President of Turkmenistan said there was an understanding that natural gas exports went beyond the limits of trade and economic relations by its significance. Building the reliable infrastructure ensuring energy transit to world markets was a backbone element of global energy security.

Touching upon the energy security issues Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov presented Turkmenistan’s position on the urgent problems such as water and energy use. Turkmenistan has stated that the problems of effective water management in Central Asia should be solved in compliance with universally recognized norms of international law and the interests of all the countries in the region. However, Turkmenistan believed that the water and energy issues should be addressed with the active participation of the international organisations.

Focusing on the progress in bilateral trade and economic cooperation, the Turkmen leader emphasized that Uzbekistan was one of Turkmenistan’s dependable partners. Emphasis was put on the dynamic increase in trade turnover between two countries that had doubled for the past two years. Noting that 13 enterprises with the Uzbek capital had been registered in Turkmenistan to date, the Turkmen leader expressed belief that they would increase in number in the near future de to the mutual willingness to enhance trade and economic contacts on a regular basis.

The vast opportunities to develop mutually advantageous cooperation were opened up by Turkmenistan’s policy of diversification and further modernization of the national economy and development of new industries. The Turkmen state intensively developed foreign economic relations conquering the new sectors of international trade. In this regard Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov put forward the proposal that the Uzbek partners collaborate in the mutually beneficial projects in such segments of the economy as transport and communications, chemical, textile construction and industries, agricultural processing, etc.

The Turkmen leader noted that the advantageous geographical location of two countries promoted integrating their potentials: Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were located on the important transport and communications routes from east to west, from north to south. In this regard the Turkmen leader suggested that the relevant agencies of two countries draft the programme, which would serves as ‘a road map’ for cooperation in the road, rail and air transport sectors.

Putting emphasis on the importance of traditional humanitarian cooperation based on the historical and cultural affinities of the Turkmen and Uzbek peoples, the age-old traditions of friendship, mutual assistance and good neighbourliness, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov called for further expanding contacts in this sphere. There was a wide field for fruitful cooperation in the spheres of culture, education and science. In this regard the Turkmen leader suggested considering a possibility to conduct the art forum – Festival of Friendship between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the second half of 2010 in Dashoguz Velayat, Turkmenistan.

For the historical and cultural heritage and the natural potential of both countries the President of Turkmenistan mentioned tourism as a promising trend in Turkmen-Uzbek partnership. In this context the Turkmen leader invited the Uzbek companies to collaborate in the large-scale project on creation of Avaza national tourism zone on the Caspian seashore. Noting that there were the vast opportunities to foster cooperation between the tourist operators of two countries Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov suggested studying the ways to enhance cooperation in this sector including the development of new routes to cultural and historical sites of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Addressing profound gratitude to President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov for his substantial efforts to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries, the Turkmen leader expressed belief that the results of the talks and the agreements reached in Ashgabat would highlight a new vector of bilateral cooperation in all fields and expressed the best wishes to the fraternal people of Uzbekistan.

Thanking the Turkmen counterpart for the heartfelt welcome and hospitality, the Uzbek leader said that Uzbekistan viewed this official visit as an important new chapter in the history of dynamically developing bilateral relations and a good opportunity to identify the further priorities of cooperation and to exchange views on regional and international issues. President Islam Karimov stated that he highly evaluated the Turkmen leader’s profound contribution strengthening and developing the intergovernmental dialogue as well as positive international partnership.

Evaluating highly the effectiveness of the Turkmen leader’s official visit to Uzbekistan this February the honorary guest emphasized that the Uzbek people sincerely rejoiced at the achievements gained by of independent neutral Turkmenistan on the path of revival and progressive reforms aimed at guaranteeing a worthy life to the Turkmen people as well as the increasing international prestige of the fraternal country and its leader. Islam Karimov said that all achievements of the modern Turkmen state were associated with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, under whose leadership the country was moving forward resolutely.

Focusing on the outcomes of the one-on-one talks, Islam Karimov noted that the sides had had a detailed discussion on a wide range of the issues of Turkmen-Uzbek cooperation and the urgent international and regional problems. In this regard the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan underscored with satisfaction the coincidence of the views on problems and challenges of the modern world. The head of the friendly neighboring country stated that Uzbekistan fully supported the peace-loving foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan and its positive initiatives on stable and reliable transit of energy, efficient use of water and energy resources and welcomed the activities of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia.

Touching upon the aspects of bilateral cooperation the Uzbek leader prioritized intensification of economic and trade relations with Turkmenistan as one of the most important and dependable partners in the region. The huge potential of this collaboration was proved by a steady growth of bilateral trade.

Islam Karimov noted that this summit in Ashgabat was marked by a very important event – putting the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline into operation. Focusing on the significance of the new transnational gas pipeline in developing mutually advantageous fuel and energy partnership, the honorary guest underscored the topicality of the Turkmen leader’s initiative on energy security embodied in the UN Resolution on the Reliable and Stable Transit of Energy and Its Role in Ensuring Sustainable Development and International Cooperation.

Expressing belief that the Turkmen-Uzbek relations would be successfully maintained further on a basis of the unshakable traditions of friendship, goodwill and mutual willingness to build effective, full-scale cooperation for mutual benefit, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan expressed the best wishes to the brotherly people of Turkmenistan.

Upon concluding the talks the ceremony of signing the bilateral documents took place.

The President of Turkmenistan and the President of Uzbekistan affixed the signatures to the Protocol on the Amendments and Additions to the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on trips of citizens and the simplified procedure for citizens living in the border areas of November 19, 2004 and the Joint Turkmen-Uzbek Communique to the applause of those present.

The 2010-2011 Programme on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan; the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the joint Turkmen-Uzbek commission for trade and economic, scientific and technical and cultural cooperation were signed.

Upon concluding the ceremony Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Islam Karimov held the brief press conference.

Addressing the journalists the President of Turkmenistan emphasized that the Uzbek leader’s visit to Ashgabat was a logical continuation of the traditionally friendly relations and fruitful contacts between two brotherly neighbouring countries at the top level as well. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the talks held as usual in a constructive way and an atmosphere of openness, mutual understanding and confidence focused on the trends in further strengthening and developing bilateral cooperation. The views on the issues of regional and international relationships of mutual interest had been exchanged.

Stating that the similarity of views and convergence of opinions on many issues of global development and world politics laid the positive foundation of Turkmen-Uzbek cooperation on a world arena, the President of Turkmenistan said that the two neighbouring states closely cooperated in the framework of the international organisations, particularly the United Nations. The Turkmen leader said that implementing the foreign policy both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan demonstrated their commitment to the principles of peace and good neighbourliness, non-interference in internal affairs of other nations and contributed to global efforts to address combat threats and challenges of the modern world and achieve sustainable development.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that Turkmenistan highly evaluated the mutual confidence and openness that were typical of the relations with Uzbekistan and underscored with satisfaction the high dynamics of the bilateral dialogue. Noting that cooperation between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan was developed on a long-term basis Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov informed that the partners had agreed to continue the activities aimed at implementing the profound potential of collaboration in the whole spectrum. In this regard the Turkmen leader said that both demonstrated the quite high growth rate that was an illustrative example in current global economic conditions.

The leader of the Turkmen state stated that Turkmen-Uzbek partnership was oriented towards the very promising future emphasizing that this was evidenced by the successful completion of the project on construction of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline. In this context the talks had focused on the issues relating to putting the largest gas pipeline into operation.

Underscoring the positive dynamics of bilateral economic and trade relations proved by that turnover of goods between the two countries had doubled for the past two years, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the mutual intention to realize more effectively realize the mutual potential for the common benefit. The President of Turkmenistan informed that the priority fields of cooperation included the fuel and energy sector, agriculture, transport and communications, textile, construction and chemical industries.

Tourism ranked among the very promising fields of collaboration. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were the successors of the ancient civilizations, the cultural and architectural monuments located on their territory aroused interest among scientists and tourists from many foreign countries. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov continued that Turkmenistan had launched the tourism infrastructure development programme and said that he had invited the Uzbek friends to collaborate in the project on creation of in a project to create Avaza national tourism zone on the Caspian seaside.

The President of Turkmenistan informed that the partners had agreed to further expand cultural and humanitarian contacts that were based on the traditional friendly and good neighbourly between two nations and centuries-old historical affinities. In conclusion the Turkmen leader expressed the wishes of peace, prosperity and success in constructive labour to the brotherly people of Uzbekistan.

In his turn Islam Karimov emphasized that Uzbekistan viewed this official visit as a remarkable, important event in the history of relations between two brotherly nations, as a logical continuation of the summits in Ashgabat and Tashkent that had become more intense, dynamic and fruitful in recent years. In this regard the Uzbek leader highly evaluated the results of the Tashkent talks and the bilateral documents signed during the Turkmen leader’s official visit to Uzbekistan this February, the opening of the new building of the Turkmen Embassy, the large-scale national exhibition of Turkmenistan and other events that had become the historic milestones in the history of the Turkmen-Uzbek dialogue.

Touching upon the results of the Ashgabat talks, President Islam Karimov emphasized that the regular top level meeting had been held in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding and spotlighted the similarity or coincidence of the views, estimates and opinions on the key issues of international politics and regional cooperation. The leader of Uzbekistan said that the active discussion of a wide spectrum of the issues of interstate relations took place confirming the strong political will and mutual readiness to deepen the transparent dialogue, identifying the prospects and ways to further versatile mutually advantageous partnership in various fields.

Islam Karimov noted that that the talks were taking place on the eve of the historic event – putting the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China transcontinental gas pipeline into operation was deeply symbolic. The Uzbek leader said that this grandiose project unequivocally supported by Uzbekistan was of considerable importance for all the countries in the region and marked the establishment of a qualitatively new, cost-effective fuel and energy infrastructure in Central Asia.

Islam Karimov noted that during the talks the sides had confirmed the existence of the common approaches and readiness to further coordinate joint actions to respond to threats and challenges of the modern world including those relating to achieving security and stability in the region. Emphasis was put on the mutual interest in close consultation and developing common approaches to urgent global problems, in particular the world financial and economic crisis and the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan. 

Noting that effective and full-scale Turkmen-Uzbek cooperation to tackle foreign policy issues would be fostered by the documents signed between the foreign ministries of the countries, President Islam Karimov underscored the unity of interests in and approaches to efficient and equitable use of water and energy resources in the Central Asian region.

Informing that the talks focused on further intensification and expansion of bilateral trade and economic relations, the honorary guest expressed satisfaction with the consistent increase in bilateral trade. Islam Karimov said that the mutual potential in this field had not been implemented in full. In this regard the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan expressed support for the Turkmen leader’s initiatives to streamline cooperation in transport and communications sector as well, in particular ‘the road map’. Islam Karimov said that the relevant government agencies had been instructed to develop the mutually acceptable solutions to ensure the realization of these initiatives as soon as possible.

The Uzbek guest said that had agreed to the Turkmen leader’s proposal to hold the 2010 International Festival in Dashoguz. The leader of Uzbekistan expressed belief that this proposal would be enthusiastically welcomed by the people in both countries that were bound with the common historical and cultural affinities. Islam Karimov said that this grandiose event would go down in history.

In conclusion the leader of Uzbekistan expressed sincere gratitude to the Turkmen leader for his profound and invaluable contribution to developing bilateral relations, establishing the climate of mutual understanding, peace and stability in the region and expressed support for the Turkmen leader’s initiatives aimed at achieving these goals.

Islam Karimov stated that he highly evaluated each meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and informed that he had invited his Turkmen counterpart to visit Uzbekistan where the heartfelt and cordial welcome would be extended to him.

Upon concluding the press conference the Uzbek leader visited the Park of National Independence located in the south of Ashgabat at the picturesque foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains. There the Uzbek leader laid a wreath of flowers to the Monument of Independence – a magnificent symbol of the modern history of Turkmenistan.

In the evening the leader of Uzbekistan attended an official reception given by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in honour of the honorary guests – the participants of the ceremony of putting the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline into operation – the President of the People’s Republic of China, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During the official reception the leaders of four countries exchanged the friendly speeches.

During the official visit to Turkmenistan President Islam Karimov will visit Lebap Velayat where he will attend the ceremony of putting the transnational gas pipeline that will supply Turkmen ‘blue fuel’ across the territories of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to China into operation.