OREANDA-NEWS. June 17, 2009. Belarus and Turkmenistan have a big potential for expanding their cooperation, said President Alexander Lukashenko during a private session with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan, which took place as part of the Belarusian leader’s official visit to Turkmenistan, reported the Official website president.gov.by.

Alexander Lukashenko has said the Belarus-Turkmenistan bilateral trade has increased 13 times in recent years. ‘But the level [of trade] we have today is close to nothing. The potential of our countries is enormous, and it must be fulfilled,’ said the President of Belarus.

He said Belarus welcomes investments from Turkmenistan and is ready to take all the necessary measures to protect them. Alexander Lukashenko has also reaffirmed that all the agreements reached during this visit will be honoured. ‘I do not feel that I have arrived in an alien land. You are a very diligent nation, just like the Belarusian nation. Turkmenistan has achieved much in recent years,’ said the Belarusian leader.

The President of Turkmenistan has appreciated the high level of cooperation between the two countries. ‘Your visit will give an additional impetus to the bilateral relationship,’ he said to Alexander Lukashenko. ‘The sides have big reserves for building it up,’ added President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.