Turkmen-Uzbek high-level talks were held on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea

Talks between President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who arrived to Turkmenistan on a working visit, were held at the Avaza Congress Center on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea. 

The parties discussed a wide range of issues of Turkmen-Uzbek cooperation during meetings held in one-on-one format and in expanded delegation. 

The heads of the two neighboring countries focused on issues of partnership in the political sphere, in particular, within the framework of international organizations, as well as on the matters of strengthening of peace and stability in the region and the Asian continent. A separate topic of the talks was the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan. 

Also, Turkmen and Uzbek leaders discussed the development of bilateral cooperation in trade-economic, energy, transport-communication, environmental and other spheres. The heads of fraternal states paid special attention to the partnership in the cultural, humanitarian and scientific fields. The parties agreed to intensify joint events in these areas - the days of culture of the two countries, creative, scientific forums and other activities that promote spiritual rapprochement and mutual enrichment of the two peoples. 

During the talks, the development of sports contacts between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan was discussed. In September, Ashgabat will host the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. In this regard, the President of Turkmenistan expressed his hope for the wide and representative participation of the Uzbek delegation in these major competitions.

Bilateral documents signing ceremony was held after the negotiations between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Avaza Congress Centre. 

The following documents were signed at the presence of the Heads of the States: 

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan and “Uzbekenergo” JSC on Transit and Transfer of Energy; 

Agreement between the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Environmental Protection and Land Resources and the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Ecology and Environmental Protection on Cooperation in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development; 

Protocol between the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Sports and the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Sports and Physical Culture on Cooperation and Organization of Participation of Uzbek Sportsmen in V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games; 

Memorandum of Cooperation between “Turkmenhowayollary” Service and «Uzbekiston hawo ýullari» National Air Company; 

Memorandum of Understanding between the State Concern “Turkmennebit” and National Holding Company «Uzbeknefitgaz». 

The Sides also entered the Agreement on Establishment of twinning Relations between Ashgabat and Tashkent and the Agreement on Cooperation between S. Seydi Turkmen State Pedagogic Institute and Nizami Tashkent State Pedagogic University. 

At the end of the documents signing ceremony, the Leaders of two States spoke to the mass media.

After signing of bilateral documents, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke to the mass media on the outcomes of the talks. 

The Sides highly appreciated the results of the negotiations, achieved agreements and signed bilateral documents. In particular, commenting the outcomes of the high-level meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted mutual endeavour of the sides to consolidation of general stability and security, establishment of the climate of trust and understanding in the Central Asia and neighbouring countries. 

It was mentioned that close partnership between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan objectively serves as a key component of this process. Both countries invariably stands for strong and efficient mechanisms which are able to provide peaceful and stable development of the Central Asia. 

In this context, special attention was paid to the situation in Afghanistan. Having similar approaches to solution of the Afghan range of problems, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan consider that regulation in the neighbouring country can be achieved only by peaceful political measures based on broad all-national dialog under active use of peace-making potential of international community, first of all of the UN. 

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan also stands for international support to the Government of Afghanistan, assistance to the country’s integration to the regional and international economic processes including in such vitally important spheres as energy and transport. It was highlighted that training of qualified national personnel in different areas of economy and social sphere is a necessary aspect of the support of Afghan people. 

It was informed to the mass media that the development of trade and economic cooperation between two neighbouring countries was one of the main subjects of the negotiations. The sides were common in the opinion on the necessity of improvement of cooperation in economy, trade and investments in accordance with existing industrial and infrastructural potential of both countries, entering new perspective directions. 

The willingness of both states to increment and diversification of mutual trade turnover, activation of investment policy for entering joint large-scale projects in industrial cooperation, service sphere, agricultural complex and in line with business communities of the countries was confirmed. 

Energy and transport were named as strategy directions of Turkmen – Uzbek cooperation. At the same time, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan shares common vision of the configuration of energy and transport routes in Eurasia. 

Turkmenistan – China gas line as well as railroad and automobile bridges across the Amudarya River are good example. With regards to diversification of energy and transport routes, there are opportunities for further realization of potentials of two countries under new joint projects. 

During the talks, the sides agreed on further assistance and promotion of broad cultural, humanitarian, scientific, educational and sport relations between two countries. 

Generally, the Heads of the State highly evaluated the meeting, which resulted in signing of number of important documents on cooperation in different spheres. 

The outcomes of the visit demonstrated that interstate partnership has long-term, strategic direction, it is not affected by external conjuncture and is aimed at steadfast creative development for the sake of our nations.