Russian, Turkmen foreign ministries sign cooperation program
ASHGABAT. Dec 7 (Interfax) - The Russian and Turkmen foreign ministers have signed a cooperation program for 2023-2024 following talks of the two foreign ministers in Moscow on December 6, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.
A governmental delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister. Foreign Minister Rasit Meredow is paying a two-day visit to Russia on the orders from the Turkmen president.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted the amicable, dynamic and consistent nature of the bilateral relations based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and confidence in his opening remarks at the meeting.
"Turkmenistan is our close friend, strategic partner. Russia gives much attention to cooperation with Turkmenistan in regional and global affairs. The tone of our relations is set by the two presidents, who have had five meetings this year alone," Lavrov said.
He also noted the importance of bilateral inter-parliamentary cooperation and the interaction between Russian and Turkmen regions, which, in his words, makes a palpable positive contribution to the development of interstate relations.
Meredow said, for his part, that the negotiations with Lavrov would be an important step in the bilateral relations and underlined the main factor of their successful development, i.e. summit meetings.
He thanked Russia for the unwavering support for Turkmenistan's international initiatives, including those concerning energy security, sustainable transport, ecology and some other areas.
The sides had a detailed discussion of the status and prospects of interaction on the world stage, in particular, in the preservation and strengthening of regional and global stability, cooperation in Caspian Sea and Aral Sea issues, and the joint countering of new challenges and threats. They also noted the effective interaction between Turkmenistan and Russia in international organizations, among them the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Bilateral trade and economic cooperation were also highlighted at the meeting.
The sides underlined the need for broader cultural and humanitarian relations. In that context, Lavrov praised Turkmenistan's attention to the Russian language and culture. The Turkmen government's decision to erect a new building of the Pushkin Russian Drama Theater in Ashgabat and to establish Russian-Turkmen University was emphasized.
The sides reaffirmed their commitment to further development of the relations of strategic partnership, which meet fundamental interests of both countries and help maintain peace, stability and development on the regional and global scales.