The President of Turkmenistan and the Governor of Sankt Petersburg outline priority directions of cooperation

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Georgy Poltavchenko, the Governor of St. Petersburg, who arrived in our country as the head of representative delegation.

Having expressed the gratitude to Turkmen leader of cordial welcome, the guest highlighted that he is happy to visit our country, which has old friendship and fruitful cooperation relations in different spheres with St. Petersburg. Having expressed his sincere gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the attention paid to bilateral cooperation. Georgy Poltavchenko confirmed the interest of St. Petersburg in continuation of traditional dialog, which is an integral component of Turkmen – Russian relations.

Welcoming the guest, the Head of the State noted that close relations between Turkmenistan and Sankt Petersburg are visual evidence of efficient partnership in the context of successful cooperation with the Russian Federation, which has strategic character. At present time, interstate cooperation is enriched and supplemented by the contacts between Turkmenistan and big regions and other constituent entities of the Russian Federation inducing Sankt Petersburg.

During the meeting, the President of Turkmenistan and the Governor of St. Petersburg exchanged the opinions on topical issues of cooperation, having specified its priority directions. It was highlighted that positive practice of cooperation and its considerable potential make all prepositions for the expansion of bilateral relations that already have rich history.

Large-scale reformation programme in Turkmenistan aimed at the industrialization of the country, diversification national economy, scientific and technological progress and improvement of social sphere open good perspectives for efficient partnership. At the same time, the intent of the business structures of St Petersburg toward the improvement of its positions in Turkmen market, where such famous representatives of Russian business circles like PJSC “Siloviye Mashyny”, “Vozrojdeniye” Group and others have recommended itself, was highlighted.

Trade and economic sphere, energy, industry, construction and other are among perspective directions of cooperation. In this context, there are good prepositions for the activation of investment activity and implementation of new joint projects.

Consolidation of efforts in transport and communication sector including the modernization of relative infrastructure and formation of international transport and transit corridors where Turkmenistan proposed the number of constructive initiatives seems to be very appropriate. It is remarkable that since 2009, regular flight is operating between Ashgabat and northern capital of Russia. The opening of the flight was another stimulus for the development of economic and business partnership.

Humanitarian field where productive dialog has been established in education and training of professional personnel as well as in science and culture is an important component of cooperation between both Turkmenistan and St Petersburg and in Turkmen – Russian relations in general. Having touched upon this subject, the President and the Head of City Administration of St. Petersburg spoke for further intensification of fruitful relations in this sphere that would serve to the improvement of friendship relations between the peoples of two countries.

Having confirmed the willingness to active bilateral partnership in wide spectrum of directions, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and his guest noted that such cooperation meets mutual long-term interests and strategic course of interstate relations. This is visually indicated by the relative document – the Roadmap on cooperation in the next years, which is planned to be signed and which implementation is to give strong impulse to old dialog between our country and northern capital of Russia.

Having highlighted big personal input of Turkmen leader to the development of traditional partnership, Georgy Poltavchenko expressed sincere gratitude to the Head of the State for detailed conversation as well as his admiration of white-marble Ashgabat, which make an impression by its original architectural ensemble and beauty.

At the end of the meeting, the President of Turkmenistan and the Governor of St. Petersburg expressed the confidence that versatile cooperation between our country and northern capital of Russia would continue to be successfully developed receiving new specific content.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russia Federation to Turkmenistan Alexander Blokhin also took part in the meeting.

***

The meeting in city administration of Turkmen capital was held under the visit of the Governor of Sankt Petersburg to Ashgabat.

In addition, the programme of the visit includes the visit of International Equestrian Complex.

Bilateral meetings with the heads and representatives of number of ministries and departments of Turkmenistan were held during the visit of the delegation of Sankt Petersburg to Ashgabat. The agenda included the discussion of the issues of development of beneficial partnership in its actual directions.