On April 30, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov received Vice President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič, who had arrived in our country. Appreciative to head of state of the audience, the guest confirmed the European Union’s unfailing interest in strengthening the fruitful relations with Turkmenistan. As Mr. Maroš Šefčovič said it was his first visit to Ashgabat and the Turkmen capital, which had justly entered the Guinness Book of Records as the city with the highest density of white marble-clad buildings in the world, made a deep impression on him. Welcoming the guest, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has noted that promotion of mutually advantageous cooperation with the European partners is one of the key vectors of our country’s foreign policy strategy. In the course of the meeting, the head of Turkmen state and the Vice President of the European Commission exchanged opinions on prospects for partnership in the priority areas, including the trade-economic, humanitarian and cultural fields. Special theme of the conversation was the issues of cooperation in the fuel and energy sector, in which our country – a possessor of the enormous resource and industrial potential, is implementing the strategy of diversified transportation of energy resources to the world markets, including in the European direction, which provides for building a joint pipeline infrastructure. In that context, it was emphasized that the EU supports this far-sighted strategy. Having confirmed the European Union’s keen interest in deepening mutually beneficial partnership with our country in the fuel and energy sector, the guest expressed confidence that a quadrilateral meeting to be held in Ashgabat with participation of executives of the sectoral departments of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey and the EU representatives would contribute to wider cooperation in this strategic sphere. At the same time, there is a wide field for effective partnership in the transit-transport sector, which is an integral factor of universal socio-economic progress. Among the crucial aspects of interaction, the parties also defined combining of efforts in maintaining peace and stability throughout the world, and creating conditions for universal sustainable development. Emphasizing that this year marks our country’s 20th anniversary of permanent neutrality, which was specified in the United Nations General Assembly’s Special Resolution, the head of state invited EU partners to take part in the festivities in honor of this remarkable date. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Mr. Maroš Šefčovič congratulated the leader of nation on the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality that plays an important role in maintaining peace, security and stability, strengthening positive regional and global processes, as well as on the historical event – the launch of the first communications satellite of Turkmenistan – “TürkmenÄlem 52°E”, which marked the fact that our country joined the ranks of the space powers. Concluding the meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and his guest expressed confidence in further successful continuation of multi-aspect cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union, built on the equal, mutually advantageous and long-term basis. Chargé d’Affaires ad Interim of the European Union in Turkmenistan Dionysios Daniilidis also attended the meeting.