Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan intensify cooperation

By Azernews

By Kamila Aliyeva

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov discussed issues of developing the bilateral relations within the agreements reached during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Ashgabat in early March 2017.

Kamilov arrived in Ashgabat city on April 30 to attend the sixth meeting of the foreign ministers of the countries participating in the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue2017, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

Berdimuhamedov and Kamilov stressed that thanks to the political will of the leadership of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the relations between the two countries reached a qualitatively new level, which allowed to activate mutually beneficial cooperation in the political, trade and economic, investment, transport and communication, cultural and humanitarian, as well as other spheres.

They noted that Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan also intensify cooperation within the framework of international and regional organizations, including the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea currently chaired by Turkmenistan.

On the same day, the Uzbek foreign minister met with Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan.

The two foreign ministers exchanged views on topical issues of bilateral relations, the agenda of the sixth meeting of the foreign ministers of the countries participating in the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue, as well as international and regional issues.

Earlier, in March the two countries signed an agreement on economic cooperation for 2018-2020 years, a memorandum on further development of cooperation in the field of rail transport, inter-governmental co-operation program in the cultural and humanitarian sphere for 2017-2019 years, the program of cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan in the 2017-2018 years were signed.

In 2015, the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to about $320 million, in January-August of 2016 - $177 million.

Uzbekistan exports fertilizers, construction materials, fruits and vegetables, electrical and mechanical equipment, vehicles, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, services to Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan supplies oil products, propylene polymers, sulfuric acid to Uzbekistan.

In Uzbekistan, 7 enterprises operate with the participation of the Turkmen side. In Turkmenistan, there are 6 enterprises with participation of residents of Uzbekistan.