Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Photo: Press Service of the President of Uzbekistan
Since the beginning of this year, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan has reached $600 million. The countries actively cooperate in industry, agriculture, energy, and other sectors of the economy. This was discussed at a meeting between Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, held in Turkmenbashi.
First of all, Mirziyoyev congratulated his counterpart on the successful hosting of the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. The head of state emphasized the vital importance of the agenda items included for the sustainable development of the entire Central Asian region.
The parties considered aspects of further strengthening interstate relations of good neighborliness and strategic partnership in the context of implementing the agreements reached at the meeting in Samarkand in April of this year.
In particular, the importance of creating the “Shavat-Dashoguz” border trade zone was highlighted, which will give an additional boost to the growth of mutual trade turnover.
However, Mirziyoyev and Berdimuhamedov discussed not only economic partnership. The meeting also touched upon the continuation of active interregional contacts and humanitarian exchanges. As part of preparations for upcoming high-level negotiations, it is planned to hold meetings of intergovernmental commissions, the Business Council, the Forum of Regions, and a series of cultural events.
An exchange of views also took place on the agenda of the UN Conference and the planned seventh Consultative Meeting of Central Asian country heads, which will be held in Tashkent this fall.
It is worth noting that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also held meetings with other participants of the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. In particular, in Turkmenbashi, the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan held talks with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Tajikistan’s leader Emomali Rahmon.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Turkmenistan to participate in the event. According to local media, he held talks with the president of the Central Asian republic, Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
