Merkel accepts invitation to visit Turkmenistan
ASHGABAT. Aug 30 (Interfax) - Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during his working visit to Germany on Monday, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan said.
At their meeting, Berdimuhamedow and Merkel reaffirmed the two sides' mutual interest in raising their partnership to a new level which would match today's realities, it said.
They also discussed key avenues of Turkmen-German cooperation and its long-term prospects.
Berdimuhamedow then invited Merkel to visit Turkmenistan when it was convenient for her. The German leader accepted the invitation with gratitude. The visit's dates will be negotiated via diplomatic channels.
Merkel said that Turkmen-German cooperation had great potential and reaffirmed her country's readiness to further enhance it in all areas, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan said.
Among key areas of their partnership, the sides mentioned the fuel and energy sector, transport, the industrial sector, electricity, communications and telecommunications, agriculture, the healthcare industry and a number of other sectors.
When addressing a joint press conference, Merkel said that Germany and the European Union were interested in continuing to vigorously develop their partnership with Turkmenistan.
The German chancellor also noted positive tendencies in Turkmen society's democratic processes and welcomed Turkmenistan's ongoing constitutional reform in line with generally recognized standards of international law and relevant world experience, the State News Agency said.
Merkel said that issues concerning the ecological situation around the Aral Sea had been addressed at the talks as well.
On the same day, the Turkmen leader held meetings with the heads of the companies Cifal Group, ILF Consulting Engineers, Deutsche Bank AG and Cargolux, as well as Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
