OREANDA-NEWS. January 14, 2010. The 5th meeting of the joint Turkmen-Uzbek commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical and cultural cooperation took place in the Turkmen capital.

The representative delegation of the friendly neighbouring countries led by Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, Co-Chairman of the Turkmen-Uzbek intergovernmental commission Elyor Ganiev had arrived in the Turkmen capital to participate in the bilateral meeting. Turkmenistan was represented to the high-ranking and leading specialists of the national ministries and departments in accordance with the recent Resolution of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Greeting the Uzbek guests Co-Chairman of the Commission, Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan N. Atagulyev said that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had emphasized that the activities of the joint commission fully complied with the high goals and objectives of interstate cooperation intensification of which Turkmenistan attached priority significance to. That was evidenced by the successful development of the Turkmen-Uzbek dialogue in the political, economic and cultural spheres had been rapidly enhanced at all levels.

Underscoring the importance to maintain the practice of conducing meetings and consultation on a regular basis the Commission members were unanimous that every new meeting marked a new step to enhance fruitful rapidly developing cooperation, the high dynamics of which was conditioned by the goodwill of the two leaders, long-term positive experience and huge potential of collaboration demanded by modern times, the interests of the neighbouring states and their friendly peoples.

It was noted that the official visit of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to Turkmenistan last December, which had been timed to launching the world’s largest gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China called the XXI century project opening up new opportunities and horizons to expand and enhance regional cooperation, had given new incentives to develop Turkmen-Uzbek relationships. The important document signed upon concluding the Ashgabat summit included the Agreement between the Governments of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the joint Turkmen-Uzbek commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical and cultural cooperation that would serve as a legal instrument regulating the activities of this bilateral commission.

In the businesslike, constructive atmosphere the participants exchanged views on the current state and prospects for further cooperation as well as the progress in implementing the bilateral agreements. In this regard they noted with satisfaction that the decisions adopted during the previous meetings – 3rd and 4th, in particular to hold the national exhibitions of the two countries in Ashgabat and Tashkent had been implemented.

Focusing with satisfaction on the steadily high dynamics of trade and economic ties that was evidenced best of all by the steady growth in trade turnover between the two countries, the Commission members underscored the importance to further broaden the range of commodities and increase mutual supplies as well as establish new joint ventures. The successful examples of the joint ventures included the business partnership Turkmen-Uzavto specialized in dealing and maintenance services of cars in Turkmenistan.

Emphasis was put on the development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation. In this regard the Uzbek partners highly evaluated the Turkmen leader’s initiative to hold Festival of Friendship in Dashoguz in the second half of 2010 and to develop the long-term programme of cooperation in these important spheres.

Upon concluding the talks the head of the Uzbek delegation thanked for the heartfelt welcome and hospitality and expressed belief that this meeting would promote enhancing and strengthening traditional international cooperation.

Upon summing up the meeting the parties signed the Protocol.