Today, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has left for the Republic of Uzbekistan with a two-day working visit, where at the invitation of Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev, he will participate in the meeting of the Council of heads of member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as an honoured guest.

In accordance with its foreign policy doctrine based on the status of permanent neutrality and fully aimed at strengthening of constructive international dialogue in the name of universal progress and sustainable development, sovereign Turkmenistan successfully develops fruitful interaction with partner countries both in the bilateral and multilateral formats.

The fact that as a full-fledged member of over 50 important international and regional organizations, our country takes the most active part in separate interstate unions, of which it is not a member, but fully shares their approaches to establishment of multifaceted, equal and mutually respected dialogue, facilitates an ever growing role of modern Turkmenistan in the global political and economic space.

In this, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an undoubted priority of activity of which is maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region, takes a special place. The countries, which are members of the organization, are old, traditional partners of Turkmenistan, its neighbours and friends, in partnership with which it has already realized and realizes many important joint projects.

Thus, the fruitful dialogue on the platform of SCO directly facilitates not only the strengthening of historically established links of friendship and brotherhood of peoples of the region, but intensifies their multifaceted cooperation in all key areas.

Established in 2001, this important institution today represents an intergovernmental international organization, which functions a permanent basis. At present, it includes the Republic of India, Republic of Kazahstan, and People’s Republic of China, Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Russian Federation, Republic of Tajikistan, and Republic of Uzbekistan. A number of states have the status of an observer and partner in the dialogue under SCO.

As known, the strengthening of mutual trust, and good neighbourhood between member countries; facilitation of their efficient cooperation in political, trade and economic, scientific and technical and cultural fields; promotion of creation of a democratic and just political and economic world order are stipulated among key goals outlined in the charter of the organization.

Thus, cooperation with SCO, which enjoys a great impact in the Eurasian continent, has a great future in the context of development of interregional relations, serving objectives of maximum involvement of existing potentials for full development of national economies and their successful integration into the world economy.

The invitation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the regular high-level meeting visually testifies to the high international authority of Turkmenistan, taking an active position in development of well-balanced decisions for solution of topical issues and problems of modernity and striving to realize its enormous creative potential for the universal cause.

Having flown from the airport of the Turkmen capital in the early morning, the presidential airline in an hour and a half landed in the Samarkand International Airport, where officials of Uzbekistan met President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

At the flagpoles state flags of countries participating in the SCO Summit, were raised. Both sides of the carpet runner leading from the boarding bridge of the airplane were lined with guards of honour.

Flowers were handed to the high Turkmen guest.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who arrived in Samarkand on the eve of the upcoming SCO Summit to take place tomorrow, on September 16, held a number of bilateral meetings with his foreign colleagues – Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev as well as with Secretary General of the SCO Zhang Ming.

Meetings held on the margins of the summit became a reflection of initiative position of the Turkmen side on further expansion of multifaceted cooperation based on the principles of equality, trust, and mutual benefit.

Also within the framework of the first day of his working visit, the head of Turkmenistan visited the Mausoleum of first President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in the memorial complex “Hazrati Hizr”, where in honour of the bright memory of the outstanding statesman and political figure, who has made a great personal contribution to the strengthening and development of brotherly Turkmen-Uzbek relations, laid a wreath at his burial place.

In the evening, the motorcade of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov headed towards the Park of honoured guests, where the head of the state planted a tree, which has become another symbol of strong links of friendship between brotherly countries and peoples.

The working visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the Republic of Uzbekistan continues.