Turkmen president, FAO director-general discuss cooperation in food security, agriculture

ASHGABAT. Jan 22 (Interfax) - Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Qu Dongyu to discuss the prospects for bilateral cooperation, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported on Thursday.

Qu reaffirmed the FAO's interest in developing cooperation with Turkmenistan, noting the high quality of reforms underway in the Turkmen agricultural sector.

The regional food security conference, which Qu will attend during his visit to Turkmenistan, will become an important platform for exchanging views on these important issues, Berdimuhamedov said.

Turkmenistan contributes to the strengthening of global food security and sustainable management of natural resources and supports the international community's initiatives and efforts aimed at resolving crucial climate and environmental problems, he said.

When commenting on cooperation with the FAO, Berdimuhamedov said that the sides are implementing a number of projects to modernize Turkmenistan's agricultural sector.

Turkmenistan has successfully accomplished projects with the FAO's support to enhance the agricultural sector's productivity, update land use principles and introduce modern technologies.

In addition, national and regional projects are underway to intensify efforts aimed at protecting agricultural crops. Initiatives are being implemented as part of the Green Climate Fund and the One Health approach.

In this context, Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan's readiness to further expand cooperation with the FAO.

The day before, the Turkmen government and the FAO signed an agreement to set up the FAO's representative office in Turkmenistan and to provide technical assistance.