OREANDA-NEWS. February 15, 2011. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, Minister of State for International Cooperation of the State of Qatar.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity of a personal meeting, the guest conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes of Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who had congratulated the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the fourth anniversary of his presidency and the coming national holiday, the National Flag Day, to the Turkmen leader.

Greeting the high-ranking official of the State of Qatar, the Turkmen leader expressed the best wishes to the leadership of the friendly country and emphasized that Turkmenistan attached considerable significance to strengthening traditional ties and intensifying fruitful cooperation with the State of Qatar which ranked among its dependable business partners.

A lively exchange of views on the current state and prospects for bilateral collaboration took place during the meeting. It was noted that in the present period intergovernmental relations between Turkmenistan and Qatar based on historically established commonality of spiritual traditions were developed effectively in all fields and filled with a new content. In this context it was emphasized that a powerful impetus to step up Turkmen-Qatari partnership had been offered by the top level agreements reached during the official visit of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the State of Qatar in October 2010.

The guest noted that the people of Qatar were keenly interested in the progress of grandiose reforms launched throughout the country on the initiative of the Turkmen leader and sincerely proud of achievements of the friendly people.

The fuel and oil sector, which played a strategic role in the two economies, trade and economy, investment, transport and communications and other sectors were mentioned as priority areas for cooperation. In this regard Mr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah stated that the Qatari business circles intended to expand on the promising Turkmen market where the conditions conducive to fruitful economic cooperation had been created.

In particular, the guest focused on his country’s willingness to collaborate actively on implementation of the large-scale project of the transnational railway North-South initiated by the President of Turkmenistan. The Minister of State also said that Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani intended to pay a visit to Turkmenistan and attached significant importance to a new top level meeting.

Welcoming such a constructive approach to collaboration, the leader of the Turkmen state invited Qatari businessmen to collaborate in ongoing large-scale investment projects in our country.

In conclusion President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and his guest underscored the willingness of the two friendly countries to intensify cooperation in all fields and expressed belief that bilateral partnership would be developed further successfully. Minister of State Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah thanked once again for the opportunity of a personal meeting and the heartfelt welcome and wished good health and every success in his versatile activity to the President of Turkmenistan ad peace and prosperity to the brotherly people of Turkmenistan.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to Turkmenistan Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman Al-Moghaisib attended the meeting.