Today, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Presidential Affairs of the UAE Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.

The head of Turkmenistan expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome and conveyed greetings from the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of the Milli Gengesh Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The President of the country stressed that he perceives his official visit to the UAE as an event destined to give a new impetus to strengthen and develop the traditionally friendly and fraternal dialogue between the two states, initially built on the principles of equality, mutual respect and goodwill.

Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan noted that the United Arab Emirates is interested in cooperation with Turkmenistan, which they see as a reliable and promising partner with huge resource and economic potential, and expressed confidence that the first official visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the UAE and the documents signed within its framework will open a new page in the history of relations between the two states.

During the meeting, the importance of intensifying trade and economic ties was emphasized, issues of cooperation in a number of promising areas were discussed, including in the fuel and energy sector, as well as in such areas as oil refining, gas chemical industry and transport.

As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted, by implementing long-term development programs, Turkmenistan is guided by the best international experience and the introduction of the latest developments in all spheres of the economy.

The head of state noted that the fuel and energy potential and the favorable geographical location of Turkmenistan – at the crossroads of transport and communication routes of the world are of great importance for building up Turkmen-Emirati cooperation. Our country has all the opportunities to interact with the leading oil and gas companies of the Emirates, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said.

Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan confirmed the readiness of the UAE business community to expand productive partnership with Turkmenistan, which is successfully implementing a far-sighted economic strategy.

Touching upon the cooperation between the two countries in the investment sphere and noting that during meetings with representatives of the Abu Dhabi Development Fund, issues of investing and attracting loans for the implementation of projects in the gas chemical industry, transport, logistics and financial fields are being discussed, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov focused on the need to intensify this dialogue.

The parties also noted the importance of building up partnership in the transport sector, in particular, in sea, rail and air communications. In this context, the head of Turkmenistan stressed the urgency of establishing contacts with the International Port of Abu Dhabi in order to join the International Seaport of Turkmenbashi to the system of seaports of the world.

The interlocutors spoke for the importance of giving a new impetus to the activities of the Joint Committee on Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the expediency of holding regular meetings between representatives of the business circles of the two countries.

Outlining the Turkmen market as exceptionally promising, Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed that such an assessment includes the presence of all conditions for business in the country, primarily a favorable investment climate and progressive economic growth. In this regard, a proposal was made to create a joint bank and open its representative office in both countries.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov supported this proposal, noting that Turkmenistan will create all opportunities for this.

During the conversation, the importance of implementing joint humanitarian projects was emphasized, as well as the expediency of activating partnership in sports.

At the end of the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov invited Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit Ashgabat at a convenient time for him.

Thanking for the invitation, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Minister of Presidential Affairs of the UAE also conveyed his best wishes to the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan

Saying goodbye, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Presidential Affairs of the UAE Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed confidence that the mutual desire to increase dialogue will be effectively implemented in practice for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.