Before leaving for Beijing President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers at the Ashgabat International Airport. The high-ranking officials of the national ministries and departments, the khyakims of the Ahal Velayat and Ashgabat took part in the sitting.

Before opening the sitting those present congratulated the Turkmen leader on the upcoming holiday – Turkmen Melon Day traditionally celebrated in Turkmenistan as the nationwide festivities. On these days Ashgabat hosts Turkmenagro-2008 International Exhibition and Conference.

Thanking for the congratulations the President focused on the paramount importance of the holiday in honour of ‘the queen of melon plantations’ for the people of Turkmenistan and noted that melon – a fruit of Turkmen farmers’ diligent labour and talent. The President said that from ancient times Turkmen melons had been famous for unsurpassed taste and flavour far away from the native land. Putting emphasis on the necessity of maintaining and extending the glory of Turkmen melon and gourd growing Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov congratulated farmers and people of Turkmenistan.

The Vice Premiers reported on the state of affairs and fulfillment of the President’s instructions. Commenting on the report on the preparations for Turkmenagro-2008 International Exhibition and Conference Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the applied significance of the forum with respect to the agricultural reform aimed at intensifying the development of agricultural sector and increasing its productive potential. Instructing to ensure the proper level of organization of the exhibition and conference the President noted that the International Children’s Art Festival Golden Generation of the Golden Age had closed in the Turkmen capital. The Turkmen leader said that the new meeting in the hospitable Turkmen land had turned into the fiesta of children’s art and most importantly helped hundreds of the children from different countries of the planet become friends. Emphasizing that in the context of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy strategy such forums promoted the policy of good neighborliness and wide positive co-operation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed the relevant high-ranking officials to see to it that the festival would become a remarkable event in the life of the country and leave the best impressions in the foreign young guests’ hearts.

Focusing on the aspects of the urban development programme implemented in Ashgabat the President demanded that strict control should taken of the quality and period of construction. The President instructed the Ashgabat Khyakim to announce the international tender for reconstruction of the building of the Cosmos cinema. The building would house conference hall and showing room, café and auxiliary premises.

During the sitting other issues of the current national policy were considered.

Upon concluding the sitting the President and delegation of Turkmenistan left for Beijing. The high-ranking officials of the Mejlis, ministries and departments, cabinet ministers and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and the officials of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China saw the Turkmen leader off at the Ashgabat International Airport.