The intergovernmental Turkmen-Russian commission for economic co-operation held the third meeting in the Turkmen capital.

The representation of the delegations – the heads of the leading sectoral ministries and departments, government and business organisations and the rank of the co-chairmen – Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov and First Deputy of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation V. Zubkov testify to the importance of the current meeting.

The agenda items covered the whole spectrum of versatile Turkmen-Russian co-operation.

Cordially greeting the Russian guests Co-Chairman R. Meredov focused on the exceptional importance of the meeting that would offer a powerful incentive to further develop and enhance the traditionally friendly relations between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation. The sides noted that the important bilateral documents signed in the past years and considerably extending the legal framework had conditioned the effectiveness of the intergovernmental dialogue along with the sincere personal relations between the leaders of both countries.

Thanking the hosts for the heartfelt welcome and business-like approach to co-operation V. Zubkov confirmed clearly observed intensification of trade and economic co-operation that was proved by the dynamic growth of trade turnover between two countries.

The participants presented the reports on the fulfillment and drafting of the agreements, put forward the proposals on the possible ways of intensifying traditional collaboration. The commission members stated with satisfaction that within a year since the last meeting the large-scale work had been carried out: the legal framework regulating bilateral co-operation had been inventoried, the Turkmen-Russian Business Council had been established and the Turkmen young people had been admitted to the educational establishments in Russia. The Russian National Exhibition opened in Ashgabat on these days and serving as the effective platform for establishing close business contacts vividly evidenced both countries’ interest and readiness for full-scale co-operation. Opening the branch of I. M. Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas in Ashgabat would serve this purpose.

The sides confirmed mutual interest in accelerating the preparations of the intergovernmental agreement aimed at implementing the Joint Declaration of the Presidents of Turkmenistan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan adopted in the town of Turkmenbashi in May 2007 for signing.

The talks held in the business-like, constructive atmosphere displayed the prospects of partnership in other fields, in particular enhancing and expanding humanitarian co-operation that would promote enhancing friendship and mutual understanding between the neighbouring countries. Transport, industry, agro-industrial complex were mentioned as the very promising fields of co-operation. The Russian partners welcomed Turkmenistan’s initiative to hold the CIS agricultural forum in Ashgabat in 2009.

The sides agreed to work out the important intergovernmental documents including the draft agreement on encouragement and mutual protection of investments, mutual recognition of the certificates of education and others.

Upon concluding the meeting the sides signed the Agreement on Economic Co-Operation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Russian Federation, the Agreement on Scientific and Technological and Investment Co-Operation between the Supreme Council for Science and Technology under President of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, the Minutes of the third meeting.

The fourth meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Russian commission for economic co-operation will be held in the second half of 2009.