The high-level talks between Ukraine and Turkmenistan were a success, Turkmen television reported late on Sept. 12.
The meeting between the two presidents - Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and Viktor Yanukovych – started with a private meeting and then continued with the participation of governmental delegations.
While welcoming his guest to Turkmenistan, Berdimuhamedow said the current official visit by the Ukrainian president to Turkmenistan was considered an important event in the history of bilateral relations. The Turkmen leader said he was satisfied with the positive development of the intergovernmental dialog, which he said was now developing due to the mutual goodwill of the sides.
"We found a common denominator in all issues of partnership, and we see that the Ukrainian side has understanding and willingness to cooperate. We appreciate this and consider this position, which is based on the mutual desire to meet each other halfway, to be the key to the immutability of the creative nature of bilateral relations and their further development and strengthening for the benefit of the peoples of Turkmenistan and Ukraine," Berdimuhamedow said.
While speaking about trade and economic cooperation, he noted that Turkmenistan and Ukraine are quite able to bring this partnership to a level corresponding to its full potential and the objective requirements of the two countries.
Berdimuhamedow pointed to the long-standing and successful practice of Turkmenistan’s cooperation with Ukrainian companies operating in the energy sector, the construction of city infrastructure, and in other important sectors of the Turkmen economy.
He said that 29 enterprises with Ukrainian capital had been registered in Turkmenistan and that 63 projects worth nearly $2 billion and over euro 1.5 billion were being implemented.
However, Berdimuhamedow said that the current level of trade did not reflect the real mutual potential of the two countries.
"The relevant structures – both public and private, should thoughtfully and purposefully assess the state of Turkmen-Ukrainian relations, set out priorities and start a substantive dialog with a view to bringing them to a qualitatively new level," he said, adding that it is necessary to think, first and foremost, about the intensification of cooperation in the sphere of high technology, and its practical implementation in the development of industry, the oil and gas sector, transport and communications, and the agricultural sector in Turkmenistan.
While emphasizing Ukraine’s interest in full-scale cooperation with Turkmenistan, Yanukovych, in turn, said he was confident that the talks held in Ashgabat would give a new impetus to the development of fruitful relations between the two countries and their peoples.
"Ukraine considers Turkmenistan, which occupies a key position in Central Asia, to be a highly promising partner," he said.
Yanukovych said that Turkmenistan and Ukraine had extensive experience of partnership in the implementation of joint projects, and supported the Turkmen leader’s initiatives to continue this fruitful cooperation, particularly in the construction of facilities such as solar power plants. He also reiterated the readiness of the Ukrainian side to cooperate with Turkmen partners in the field of high technology and space technology.
After thanking Berdimuhamedow for his warm reception in Turkmenistan, the Ukrainian president invited his counterpart to visit Ukraine at any convenient time. The invitation was accepted. The date of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.
The Ukrainian president is continuing his two-day official visit to Turkmenistan.
