Turkmen FM, U.S. secretary of state agree to hold political consultations shortly

ASHGABAT. March 1 (Interfax) - Turkmen Foreign Minister Rasit Meredow and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken have discussed bilateral online consultations on the sidelines of a C5+1 ministerial meeting, the U.S. Department of State said in a statement on its website.

"We have a very good and effective mechanism of bilateral consultations, ABC," Meredow said.

ABC (Annual Bilateral Consultations) is an instrument of annual online consultations between senior officials of Turkmenistan and the U.S.

Meredow noted that Turkmenistan was set to hold political consultations with the U.S. in the near future to address important aspects of bilateral cooperation and the regional agenda, the statement said.

In turn, Blinken said that the U.S. was proud of over 30 years of partnership with Turkmenistan. The U.S. hails the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Turkmenistan, he said.

The parties also discussed cooperation in the economy and the climate change agenda.

Meredow took part in a C5+1 ministerial conference of Central Asian nations and the U.S. in Astana, Kazakhstan, on February 28.