It is a great honor for me to be here today, said the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, at the ceremony dedicated to the launch of the next stage of the TAPI project.

Today we are laying the foundation not only for the further construction of the pipeline, but also for cooperation of our future generations, said President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, at the ceremony dedicated to the launch of the next stage of the TAPI project.

Commissioning of the Serhetabat–Torghundi railway took place today as one of events dedicated to the ground-breaking ceremony of the new section of the TAPI pipeline and laying of electric power and fiber-optic lines along the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan route.

Turkmenistan, possessing enormous natural gas reserves, conducts extensive works to ensure export of gas through diversification and creation of a multiple-vector system for transportation of energy resources to global markets, said President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the ceremony dedicated to the start of construction of the Afghanistan section of the TAPI project.

The ceremonies of launching the construction of Afghanistan section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, laying the foundation of the electricity transmission lines and fibre-optic lines Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and opening of the Serhetabat-Turgundi railway took place in Serhetabat Etrap, Mary Velayat.

Regular 25th session of the Board Committee of Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India gas line project with the participation of high-rank officials and representative of profile ministers and departments of participating countries as well as Asian Development Bank took place in Administration centre of Mary Velayat.

Administration centre of Mary Velayat hosted the talks between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shahid Hakan Abbasi who arrived to our country for the participation in the launch of construction of new facilities – Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India gas pipeline, power and fibre optic lines Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan as well as in the opening of Serhetabat – Turgundy railway.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with the State Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India Mobashar Javed Akbar who arrived in Turkmenistan as a head of representative delegation of his country for the participation in coming ceremonies.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the “Uzbekneftegaz” JSC, Alisher Sultanov, who arrived in Turkmenistan to attend the festivities on occasion of the ceremonies of launching the next stage of construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, laying the foundation of the electricity transmission lines and fibre-optic lines Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and opening of the Serhetabat-Turgundi railway.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri.