Noting the positive initiatives of the Turkmen leader, Tokayev cited as an example the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State in Avaza.
On October 25, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev held expanded bilateral talks with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat during his state visit to Turkmenistan, the press office of Akorda reported.
Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev emphasised that he considered his first state visit to fraternal Turkmenistan exceptionally important. This political event is a step towards the Turkmen friends in the practical implementation of the common goal of bringing Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan relations built on friendship and good neighbourliness to a qualitatively new level, the President of Kazakhstan said.
Addressing the audience and the leader of Turkmenistan, the distinguished guest noted that Kazakhstan strongly supported the peaceful political course of the neighbouring state and the initiatives of its leader, aimed at further strengthening cooperation in Central Asia and throughout the Eurasian space. In this context, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev mentioned the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State, organised on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea in the comfortable tourist cluster of Avaza.
Tokayev said trade and economic cooperation was the core of Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan relations in various spheres. It was noted that following the decline in trade due to the global pandemic, the trade turnover increased by more than 30% in the past few months. In this regard, the President of Kazakhstan mentioned the colossal reserves that were waiting in the wings in the energy, transport, logistics, agricultural and industrial sectors. With the aim to fulfil these tasks, his country was ready to increase the exports of 60 commodity items to Turkmenistan, the leader of Kazakhstan said.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasised that Turkmenistan attached great importance to the promotion of multifaceted cooperation with the Republic of Kazakhstan. The President of Turkmenistan expressed belief that the results of the meeting would give a significant impetus to bilateral political, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations for the long term.
In particular, the leader of Turkmenistan emphasised that the relationships were based on the historical traditions of good neighbourliness, mutual respect and trust and the understanding of the common aspirations and interests.
For the recognition of the merits of permanent neutrality of independent Turkmenistan, his efforts towards building friendly bridges between the two states and his huge contribution to long-term cooperation, the Bitaraplyk Order of Turkmenistan was awarded to Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev.
After the expanded talks had concluded, the strategically significant joint documents paving the way for further strengthening partnerships were signed.
