On March 30, 2017 in Ashgabat, the talks were held between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko who arrived in Turkmenistan on an official visit the day before.
In the "Oguzkhan" Palace Complex, after the official ceremony of meeting the high guest and presenting the members of the governmental delegations of the two countries, the Turkmen-Belarusian negotiations at the top began in a one-to-one format.
Among the main topics are the prospects for trade and economic cooperation, work on joint projects in the field of tourism, higher education, culture. In the opinion of both sides, the current negotiations will lay a solid foundation for the further development of partnership in all areas.
After the top-level meeting in a one-to-one format, the talks continued in an expanded format - with the participation of the members of the official delegations of the two countries.
During the talks in the enlarged format, the President of Turkmenistan noted the positive dynamics of trade turnover between the two countries in 2016, which, in comparison with 2015, increased by 4.4 percent. The head of state noted that Belarus is one of the oldest and most reliable trade and economic partners of our country. At the same time, it was noted that the existing volumes and the mix of mutual trade do not correspond to the real mutual potential. In this connection, relevant instructions will be given to the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Belarusian Commission so that during its forthcoming eighth meeting in Minsk, the current situation is analyzed and concrete proposals on this are presented.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that today's meeting strengthened the foundations of the trade and economic partnership. The most promising areas are the development of ties in trade, fuel and energy complex, processing and chemical industry, agriculture, machine building, textile and light industry.
After the negotiations between the Presidents of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Belarus in Ashgabat, a package of bilateral documents had been signed.
The leaders of the two countries signed the Joint Statement. In the presence of the heads of states the following documents were signed: The Agreement on Cooperation to fight against crime between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Belarus; the Protocol on the Approval of the Plan of events to implement the Programme of Cooperation in the spheres of culture and art for 2017-2020 between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Belarus; the Protocol on the Approval of the List of Goods to the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on the exemption from value added tax on the goods imported by the Turkmen-Belarusian Trade House to the territory of the Republic of Belarus and the Belarusian-Turkmen Trade House to the territory of Turkmenistan dated May 11, 2016; the Programme of Cooperation in the tourism sector for 2017-2018 between the State Committee for Tourism of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Belarus; the Agreement on Cooperation in the scientific, technological and innovative activities as well as the training of research officers between the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the Belarusian State Technological University; the Memorandum on Cooperation between the International University of Oil and Gas and the Polotsk State University; the Agreement on Cooperation between the Turkmen State Institute of Economy and Management and the Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives; the Agreement on Cooperation between the Turkmen State Institute of Economy and Management and Brest State Technical University; the Agreement on Cooperation between the Turkmen State Energy Institute and Brest State Technical University; the Agreement on Cooperation between the Seyitnazar Seidi Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute and A.S. Pushkin Brest State University.
After the ceremony of signing documents on the results of the talks in Ashgabat, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko addressed the representatives of the mass media.
As noted, productive and intensive negotiations were held, during which the state and prospects of bilateral relations, issues of regional and international policy, which are of mutual interest, were discussed, concrete directions for cooperation were identified.
It was stressed that on many issues of international and regional policy, Turkmenistan and Belarus demonstrate the coincidence or similarity of positions, which is the key to successful cooperation of the two countries in the world arena, primarily in the UN format.
Then President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko took part in the opening of the new building of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Ashgabat.
To the applause of the participants of the ceremony, the heads of state cut the traditional ribbon and got acquainted with the new office of the Embassy, where all conditions for the fruitful work of diplomats were created. The heads of states took part in the tree planting ceremony held on the site in front of the administrative building of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus.
On the same day, the President of the Republic of Belarus visited the Memorial Complex "Halk Hakydasy", which perpetuated the memory of national heroes - defenders of the Fatherland, as well as victims of the devastating Ashgabat earthquake of 1948, where he laid flowers at the "Baky Şöhrat" monument.
In honor of the distinguished guest, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave an official dinner, at which the two heads of state exchanged speeches.
The official visit of the President of the Republic of Belarus to Turkmenistan continues.
