At the Turkmen-Belarusian talks in Ashgabat, Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Alexander Lukashenko spoke in favor of strengthening cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. The sphere of education was especially highlighted. More than eight and a half thousand students from Turkmenistan now study in higher educational institutions of the Republic of Belarus. The Turkmen leader emphasized the need for targeted training in Belarusian universities of professional staff - specialists in the field of high technology, computer science, management. In general, Turkmenistan regards Belarus as one of its main partners in education and intends to increase this cooperation. Favorable prospects are also becoming available through scientific cooperation, in particular between the Academies of Sciences of the two countries, which is based on the bilateral Program of Cooperation in Science and Technology for the period of 2013-2017. The President of Turkmenistan proposed to sign a new program for the upcoming period. We have accumulated rich experience and good traditions in the field of cultural cooperation, which are currently backed by concrete agreements. During today's talks, an agreement was reached on intensification of partnership in this direction, encouraging a great mutual interest in the history, culture and art of the two countries that exists among the peoples of Turkmenistan and Belarus. Another relevant direction is the area of ​​sport, in particular, participation of Turkmen and Belarusian athletes in competitions regularly held in both countries. In this regard, the heads of the Belarusian sports organizations and departments, the Olympic Committee, as well as coaches, sports journalists, fans and tourists are invited to Ashkhabad for the forthcoming 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in September. As President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has emphasized, the current relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Belarus can be described as exemplary without exaggeration. This is a dialogue of true, sincere friends, who value and respect each other. We rely on the traditions of friendship and mutual sympathy of the Turkmen and Belarusian peoples, the commonality of social and moral values ​​that both states profess in their domestic policy, adherence to the principles of peace, humanism and justice in international affairs. This is a good basis for mutual understanding on almost all issues, the Head of State said.