OREANDA-NEWS.  February 1, 2012.  President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Minister of Economy of the Republic of Turkey Zafer Caglayan, who had arrived in Ashgabat leading a high-level delegation to participate in the fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmenistan-Turkey Commission for economic cooperation and the Turkmen-Turkish Business Forum.

Thanking for the opportunity to discuss important aspects of interstate cooperation during a personal meeting, the guest conveyed the cordial greetings of President of Turkey Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayip Erdogan and the keen interest of the Turkish side in enhancing fruitful interstate cooperation in priority areas.

Greeting the guest, the Turkmen leader expressed the best wishes to the leadership of the friendly country noting with satisfaction that Turkmen-Turkish relations had actively developed in recent years mainly due to mutual understanding and confidence that bound the two brotherly nations over many centuries. It was noted that in the new historical epoch this long-term cooperation initially built on equality, mutual benefit and respect for national interests had gained a new quality and embodied in a number of large-scale joint projects that played a critical role in stable and sustainable development of the two friendly states and the region.

The Turkmen leader noted that a determining role in this process was assigned to the Intergovernmental Commission for economic cooperation, a regular meeting of which would certainly contribute to enhancing the best traditions of good neighbourliness and long-term successful cooperation in the important spheres, including industry, agriculture and urban planning.

The Minister of Economy of the Republic of Turkey, Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Commission for economic cooperation noted that an essential factor for the fruitful interstate dialogue was friendly relations between the leaders of the two states and fruitful bilateral contacts established in recent years in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian areas. Taking an opportunity, the guest expressed profound gratitude to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for providing assistance to Turkish companies operating on the promising Turkmen market and contributing significantly to the growth of Turkmen economy.

Reaffirming that the business circles of his country were keenly willing to foster cooperation with Turkmenistan as was vividly illustrated by the active participation of Turkish partners in joint business forums, Mr. Zafer Caglayan said there existed the conditions conducive to it, including the tremendous resource and economic potential of Turkmenistan that maintained the high economic growth in this difficult for world economy period and the favourable investment climate attracting more potential foreign investors. Expressing sincere admiration of the changes taking place in the Turkmen land on an unprecedented scale, the guest wished President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov the success in the noble undertakings initiated by the Turkmen leader for the benefit and happiness of the people.

In conclusion the President of Turkmenistan and the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Turkey expressed belief that trade and economic cooperation would successfully develop to strengthen the ties of friendship and brotherhood between the Turkmen and Turkish peoples.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey Shevki Mutevellioglu attended the meeting.