THE STATE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN SERDAR BERDIMUHAMEDOV TO THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN TOOK PLACE

On October 15, 2022, the state visit of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the Republic of Kazakhstan took place.

It should be noted that on October 14, members of the Turkmen Government delegation held talks in Astana with their Kazakh counterparts, the agenda of which included priority issues of bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Furthermore, the possibility of productive cooperation in the energy sector became the subject of interested discussion. In this context, it was noted that there is a great potential for the implementation of mutually beneficial joint projects. Another topic of negotiations is the prospects for effective partnership in the fuel and energy sector, in particular, in the gas industry, where there is a successful experience of interaction. Along with this, the possibilities of expanding cooperation in the field of agriculture, intensifying direct contacts between business structures, including those specializing in the agro-industrial complex, were discussed.

On October 15, before the start of the high level negotiations, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov laid flowers at the Monument to Defenders of the Fatherland, located on the Square of Defenders of the Fatherland, where the guard of honor was lined up.

Then, in the Palace of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Akorda" a ceremony of official joint photographing of the President of Turkmenistan with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan against the background of the State flags of the two countries was held.

Further, the Turkmen-Kazakh negotiations at the highest level took place.

During the talks, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed that this visit of the head of Turkmenistan is of great historical importance for the further development of bilateral cooperation.

Thanking President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the invitation to visit Kazakhstan and the warm welcome, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that this is his first state visit to a neighboring friendly country. Stressing that the current meeting is considered in Turkmenistan as an important landmark event in the development of bilateral relations, the head of the Turkmen state conveyed warm greetings to the Kazakh leader on behalf of the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The President of Turkmenistan noted that October 5 this year marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. All these years, Turkmen-Kazakh cooperation has been successfully developing in the widest range of areas, in connection with which the head of state congratulated President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on this anniversary date.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov invited President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to visit Turkmenistan at any time convenient for him. This invitation was gratefully accepted. The dates of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.

In continuation of the negotiations, which were held in a trusting atmosphere and in a businesslike manner, the heads of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, specified its priority areas, taking into account modern realities, existing potential and long-term prospects. The parties also exchanged views on topical aspects of the regional and international agenda of mutual interest.

Further, the negotiations continued in an expanded format - with the participation of members of the official delegations of both countries.

It should be noted that an active, trusting political dialogue at the highest level has been established between the two countries. In this regard, noting that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev fondly recalls his visit to Turkmenistan in October last year, the head of Kazakhstan thanked for the hospitality and the creation of all the necessary conditions for joint work, which served to achieve serious success. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, taking this opportunity, conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to the Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that his first state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan is regarded as the most important landmark event in relations between our countries. Its main goal is to strengthen bilateral strategic partnership in all areas, to define clear guidelines for interstate cooperation in the Central Asian region and in the international arena, taking into account new realities and development trends.

The head of state stressed that Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan act as like-minded and responsible partners in the formation of their approaches to the most pressing issues of regional and global development. At the same time, it was noted that mechanisms have been established for coordinating positions in the United Nations, for mutual support of proposals and initiatives put forward by our countries. We note with gratitude Kazakhstan's support for the Resolutions initiated by Turkmenistan in the UN on ensuring energy security and cooperation in the field of sustainable transport, on important topics of regional issues, and the invariable respectful position regarding the neutral status of our country.

The head of Turkmenistan outlined the provision of lasting peace and security in Central Asia as an unconditional priority of cooperation between the two countries. Kazakhstan is also a neighbor of our country on the Caspian Sea. In this regard, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov focused on the results of the Sixth Caspian Summit held in Ashgabat.

Bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the environmental direction, including on the Aral Sea issues, has been also continuing.

As the head of Turkmenistan further noted, the Republic of Kazakhstan is a big economic partner of our country. We highly appreciate the achieved level of productive cooperation in various sectors, the accumulated experience of interaction within the work of government and state agencies. The strategic directions of the Turkmen-Kazakh partnership are the energy and transport sectors.

In this direction, one of the certain results of effective cooperation is the construction of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway. In this aspect, it was noted that the Turkmen-Kazakh cooperation in the transport segment today should become one of the driving forces for the development of Central Asia and neighboring regions, the most important factor in economic integration and partnership along the North-South and East-West lines.

Noting the expediency of conducting a thorough joint analysis of the general state of trade and economic relations, the President of Turkmenistan expressed confidence that our countries today are able to significantly increase trade turnover and diversify mutual supplies. A strong industrial and agricultural base and a modern transport infrastructure have been created in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. These factors should be fully used to expand mutual trade, including cross-border and regional trade, and to attract investment. We need access to large-scale projects in industrial cooperation, the service sector, and the agro-industrial complex. In this context, the joint Intergovernmental Commission should show itself more actively.

Touching upon the topic of cultural and humanitarian ties as one of the integral components of the interstate dialogue, the head of Turkmenistan stressed that our peoples are united not just by geographical proximity, but also by truly fraternal relations, common historical destinies.

In this regard, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov suggested the organization of the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2023. It was also noted the expediency to study the issue of erecting monuments to outstanding poets and thinkers of the Turkmen and Kazakh peoples - Makhtumkuli Fragi and Abai Kunanbaev, respectively in Astana and Ashgabat.

At the end of the talks in an expanded format, a ceremony of signing bilateral documents took place.

In the presence of the heads of state, the following documents were signed: Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Foreign Trade Chamber of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Memorandum of Cooperation between the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan and the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken"; Memorandum of Understanding between the State Concern "Türkmenhimiýa" and the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan on cooperation in the chemical industry; Memorandum on the development of transport and transit cooperation between the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Memorandum of Understanding between the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes; Memorandum of cooperation in the field of plant quarantine between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Comprehensive program of cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022-2024; Memorandum of Understanding between the Center for Strategic Studies of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Institute of Foreign Policy Studies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In addition, during the visit, a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Turkmen National Institute of World Languages named after Dovletmammet Azadi (Ashgabat, Turkmenistan) and the Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages named after Abylai Khan and a Memorandum of Intent in the field of combating crime between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Following this, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a Joint Statement.

At the end of the document signing ceremony, the leaders of the two countries addressed the media representatives.

Expressing deep satisfaction with the results of the talks, following which a solid package of bilateral documents was signed, the head of Turkmenistan expressed sincere gratitude to President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev and members of the delegation of Kazakhstan for the huge carried out work, and addressed the people of Kazakhstan wishes of peace, well-being and prosperity.

In honor of the distinguished Turkmen guest, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan gave an official dinner, at which the heads of the two states exchanged speeches.

In the frames of the program of the visit, in the afternoon, the head of Turkmenistan visited the Astana International Financial Center, during which he was acquainted with the infrastructure of the Center and its activities, the priority goal of which is the development of a balanced capital market with a wide range of financial services and investment instruments.

After that, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov visited the Main Mosque of the city of Astana, where he was acquainted with the features of the architecture and design of the mosque.

Having completed his state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the head of Turkmenistan left for his homeland.