Today, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov left for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a working visit to participate in the Summit of heads of member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and the countries of Central Asia. The Summit to be held the city of Jidda is called to promote further development of effective interstate and inter-regional cooperation, which are equitable to interests of general well-being and progress. Officials saw off the President of Turkmenistan at the international airport of Ashgabat.

In the conversation of the head of the state with the representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia taken place before his departure in the air harbour an invariably friendly character of mutual relations dynamically developing in all areas was stated. A great significance is given to fruitful cultural-humanitarian contacts along with mutually beneficial trade and economic relations. Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia also structurally co-operate within authoritative international and regional organisations and structures. In the given context, it was hoped that the present visit and participation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the Summit in the format GCC+ Central Asia would serve intensification of productive partnership both on a bilateral and multilateral basis.

Having reached Jidda, the presidential airliner landed at the international airport named after King Abdul Aziz, where on flag staffs national flags of countries of the Gulf and Central Asia were lifted. On both sides of the carpet path leading from the ramp of the plane, guards of honour was lined.

In the air harbour, officials warmly welcomed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Here at a cup of tea the conversation of the head of Turkmenistan with the official representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in which a high level of interstate dialogue was marked with satisfaction as well as mutual intention of two countries to strengthen bonds of friendship and mutually beneficial partnership of great potential was underlined, took place. It was hoped that the forthcoming Summit would promote association of efforts with a view to bring out multilateral interaction to a qualitatively new boundaries. Having thanked for hearty welcome rendered on the sacred land of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan, from its side, is ready to promote further expansion of effective cooperation and enrichment of its maintenance.

From the airport, the head of the state left for the place of his residence designated for the period of his working visit.

Tomorrow on the sidelines of his visit, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov will participate in the Summit in the format of GCC+ Central Asia, the agenda of which will include urgent issues of interstate cooperation in the interregional dimensions.

Consistently realising its foreign policy, which is based on principles of peaceful disposition, positive neutrality and “open doors”, Turkmenistan is aimed at development of fruitful partnership on an equal basis with all countries of the planet, including with states of the Arabic world. Here one of bright examples are traditional relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, cemented with a mutual good will of the sides.

At the present period, Turkmen -Saudi cooperation based on a strong basis of mutual respect and trust, finds a new dimension. Thus, the historically developed commonality of spiritual-moral values, which unite two fraternal people who display adherence to primordial wise traditions, acts as an important factor. One of such traditions - fulfilment of the hajj obligation. In Turkmenistan, all conditions are created that our compatriots could, following centuries-old spiritual traditions, to visit Islam relics.

In this connection, it is necessary to point out that on June 29-30, during celebration of the Gurban bayramy National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he made a hajj to Mecca and gave gurbanlyk-sadaka in which prayers for souls of parents of Hajy Arkadag – Malikguly aga and Ogulabat eje were read.

It is also remarkable that from the moment of his assumption of the post in 2022 President Serdar Berdimuhamedov made his first foreign visit to the sacred earth of the Islamic world where he made an Umra hajj.

This year thanks to assistance and support from the state, about two and a half thousand Turkmen pilgrims visited sacred cities of all Muslims Mecca and Medina. It displays embodiment priorities of the political strategy of Turkmenistan realised under the leadership of Arkadagly Hajy Serdar - worthy continuer of noble causes and undertakings of hajy Arkadag.

Relations of our Fatherland with other countries of the Near East, in particular, with those, which enter the Cooperation Council of Arab States of the Gulf, are based on principles of friendship, mutual respect and trust. Official and state visits of the President of Turkmenistan accordingly to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Qatar as well as an official visit of Hero-Arkadag to the United Arab Emirates this year became important steps to development of fruitful interaction in the given area.

Relations of Turkmenistan are based on indestructible bonds of good neighbourhood and brotherhood, historically developed links, principles of mutually beneficial partnership with countries of Central Asia. One of the visible examples for it are results of the state visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the Republic of Tajikistan, which took place the current year.

Thus, participation of the head of Turkmenistan in the forthcoming Summit is the next evidence of adherence of our country to an active and initiative position in issues of development of constructive bilateral and multilateral cooperation, new dynamics and long-term character, optimum realisation of available economic and humanitarian potential for common well-being and sustainable development.