State Duma speaker calls for deepening Russian-Turkmen energy cooperation

ASHGABAT. Jan 30 (Interfax) - Russia and Turkmenistan should deepen cooperation in energy, including the development of new fields, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.

"Implementing agreements reached by the presidents and governments of our countries will help boost mutual trade. First and foremost, this concerns the oil and gas sector, a key area in bilateral interaction. We need to deepen cooperation in energy, including the development of new fields," Volodin said as he addressed the Turkmen parliament, Majlis, on Monday.

It is also important to raise the efficiency of joint projects in energy and transport infrastructure, manufacturing industries, agriculture and other areas, he said.

Developing relations in transport infrastructure is a priority, considering the North-South project, Volodin said.

Inter-regional cooperation also plays a major role, Volodin said, adding that St. Petersburg, Tatarstan and the Astrakhan region have been successfully cooperating with Turkmenistan. "We intend to broaden such practices," he said.

Strengthening educational and cultural ties is another priority for the two countries, Volodin said, pointing that about 30,000 students from Turkmenistan are studying in Russia.

"Russia and Turkmenistan have similar stances on many issues of the global agenda," he said.