OREANDA-NEWS. January 20, 2010. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Shuvalov, who had arrived in Ashgabat leading a representative delegation.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity of a personal meeting the honorary guest conveyed the heartfelt greetings on behalf of President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who had addressed the wishes of peace, stability and wellbeing to the leader and people of Turkmenistan.

Thanking for the heartfelt wishes Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov addressed the best wishes to the leadership of the Russian Federation emphasizing that Turkmenistan viewed Russia as a dependable partner, with whom it had the large-scale long-term plans.

The Turkmen leader said that Turkmenistan was always committed to the spirit of friendship and mutually advantageous cooperation with Russia, whom the Turkmen people were bound with the common history and the common aspiration for peace and prosperity. In this regard it was noted that developing a broad constructive dialogue with Russian partners Turkmenistan intended to further intensify direct contacts with the regions and the largest industrial and cultural centre of the Russian Federation.

Exchanging views on the current state and prospects for traditional cooperation successfully maintained on the bilateral basis as well as in the framework of the authoritative international and regional institutions, the President and his guest focused with satisfaction on the high dynamics of the Turkmen-Russia dialogue brought up t a higher level in recent years through mutual efforts. The role of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Russia commission for economic cooperation and regular bilateral meetings on various levels, in particular top level, was characterized as an effective mechanism for implementing the bilateral agreements was positively evaluated.

It was noted that Turkmenistan and Russia saw the vast opportunities to combine the existing profound potential and to further implement it in all key fields including the fuel and energy sector, agriculture, transport and communication and the humanitarian sphere, where the profound positive experience of collaboration had been accumulated in recent years. Particular emphasis was put on the need strengthen trade and economic relations, which would be intensified through opening the trading houses in Moscow and Ashgabat.

Sharing their personal impressions of Ashgabat that he was visiting for the first time the Russian high-ranking guest expressed sincere admiration for the white-marble Turkmen capital, the modern look of which was the best evidence of the success of the fundamental reforms and changes launched in Turkmenistan.

Bidding heartfelt farewell Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Igor Shuvalov expressed belief that the intergovernmental Turkmen-Russia dialogue built on equal and mutually respectful partnership would be enhanced and expanded further.