OREANDA-NEWS. February 11, 2010. The third meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Indian commission for trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation brought together the high-ranking officials and representatives of the sectoral ministries, departments and government agencies in Ashgabat.

The commission was co-chaired by Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov and Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur.

In the opening remarks the heads of the government delegations focused on mutual interest in diversifying mutually advantageous partnership based on the age-old traditions of friendship between the two brotherly peoples and historical and cultural affinities. Underscoring the high dynamics of Turkmen-Indian cooperation at the current stage, the co-chairpersons expressed belief that this meeting would considerably intensified and fill intergovernmental collaboration with a new practical content. In this regard the Minister of State for External Affairs of India informed of the extreme effectiveness of the meeting with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, during which the priority aspects of Turkmen-Indian partnership had been discussed.

The agenda of the meeting, which was held in the businesslike and lively atmosphere, focused on the ways to intensify and diversify effective trade and economic cooperation. The priority fields of partnership included the fuel and energy, transport and communications, chemical, high technology, tourism sectors. It was noted that the Indian business circles demonstrated the firm intention to establish effective contacts with Turkmen partners in a wide range of sectors. In this regard it was noted in particular that the ongoing project on the creation of Avaza national tourism in Turkmenistan opened up the vast opportunities for joint work.

The focus of discussion was cultural and humanitarian cooperation, particularly in the spheres of education, science and culture as an important factor in strengthening traditional friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

On behalf of the Indian delegation, Minister Preneet Kaur expressed sincere gratitude to the President and the Government of Turkmenistan for the heartfelt welcome emphasizing that the work of the Intergovernmental Commission had vividly illustrated the mutual willingness to develop full-scale cooperation in mutual interests.

Upon concluding the meeting the sides signed the Protocol that set forth the priority fields of Turkmen-Indian cooperation as well as the concrete steps to boost joint efforts to implement the potential of bilateral partnership.

During the meeting the partners signed the Memorandum on the establishment of the Turkmen-Indian Center of Information Technologies between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of India, which would open up new opportunities to enhance cooperation.

The fourth meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Indian commission for trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation will be held in the capital of India, Delhi.