Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Ashgabat with an official state visit on 6 March, following Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow’s invitation.
Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow met at the Oguzkhan palace, to exchange views on future cooperation and the regional and international politics.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev sincerely congratulated Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on re-election as Turkmenistan’s President and said there is solid cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow thanked Shavkat Mirziyoyev for paying his first official visit as Uzbekistan’s President to Turkmenistan. He said it was a historical event, to activate available opportunities.
The Presidents said the countries’ interests in politics, trade, economy, and culture are aligned, with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan supporting each other regionally and internationally.
The sides affirmed their commitment to a political solution in the neighbouring Afghanistan and exchanged views on the fight against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and organised crime.
The Presidents continued talks alongside official delegations, to discuss cooperation in trade, economy, oil and chemistry, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, and others. They spoke about economic and trade diversification and expansion.
During the talks, the sides agreed on new cooperation directions, avowed to expand trade and economic cooperation and develop interregional contacts.
They said it was important to rationally use water resources, to fight desertification, and to protect the environment.
Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow signed a Joint Statement and the Strategic Partnership Agreement. Ministries signed an economic cooperation agreement for 2018-2020, the Memorandum on Further Railway Cooperation Development, Cultural-humanitarian cooperation Programme 2017-2019, Foreign Ministry Cooperation Programme 2017-2018, and supply contracts.
Khorazm region and Dashoguz Vilayat, and Bukhara Region and Lebap Vilayat signed trade, economic, and cultural cooperation agreements.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev gifted Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow the recently published book ‘Elingga bahsh ayla’, by Makhtumkuli. President Berdimuhamedow said the book was the best present and expressed his gratitude.
At the second half of the day, the Presidents visited the International Akhaltekin Horse Complex. Turkmenistan’s President gifted our head of state a thoroughbred.
Uzbekistan’s President laid a wreath at Turkmenistan’s Monument of Independence and planted a seed on the Alley of Honoured Guests. It was here that the First President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, planted a tree.
President Mirziyoyev then laid a wreath at the Sapamurat Niyazov Mausoleum.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Turkmenistan continues.
