Today, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has left for an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.
Officials accompanied the head of the state was to the international airport of Ashgabat.
Having made a flight to Abu Dhabi, the presidential airline landed at the international airport of the UAE where national flags of the two countries were raised at flagpoles. In honour of arrival of the high guest, along the carpet line leading from the boarding bridge the guard of honour was lined.
In the air hub, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates Suheil Al Mazrui and other officials welcomed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov warmly.
Then, the President of Turkmenistan headed towards the Palace of the President of the United Arab Emirates.
Arrival of the motorcade of the high guest in the palace was accompanied with the volley of gun salute.
At the car, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov was warmly and cordially welcomed by President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Heads of the two countries exchange friendly greetings.
The commander of the company of the guard of honour solemnly reports. The national hymn of Turkmenistan plays.
Soldiers of the guard of honour pass solemnly matching on the square.
Presidents Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan pass into the Palace where before an official ceremony of photographing against the background of national flags of Turkmenistan and UAE members of government delegations of the both countries are introduced to each other.
In memory of the event, the head of Turkmenistan made a note in the Book of honoured guests.
Then, in the Great Conference Hall, high-level bilateral talks took place with participation of delegations of the both countries.
Having expressed his sincere acknowledgement to the President of UAE on behalf of the Turkmen delegation for the warm reception and hospitality, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also conveyed to him warm words of greetings from the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of the Milli Gengesh Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Having noted that this was his first visit to the United Arab Emirates as the President of Turkmenistan, the head of the state underlined that at the present meeting, a wide range of issues of bilateral relations will be exchanged and opinions to bring them to the new level meeting mutual interests and modern realities will be exchanged.
In continuation of the topic, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stated with satisfaction the steady and active dynamics of Turkmen-Emirati cooperation, during which a firm contractual and legal basis has been developed, regular contacts at governmental and sectoral levels have been established.
Turkmenistan and UAE also develop the constructive dialogue on the international arena demonstrating mutual understanding and closeness of their positions on topical issues of regional and global agendas.
It has become a good tradition to support each other within the framework of the United Nations and other large international organizations.
Turkmenistan and United Arab Emirates are dynamically developing countries possessing rich natural resources and favourable geographical locations that serve a great support for fruitful partnership in the trade and economic sector.
A significant role is attached to the work of the Joint Committee on Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates and the Business Council established by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the United Arab Emirates in efficient realization of the existing potentials.
Among priority areas of bilateral cooperation is the fuel and energy sector. Turkmenistan, which possesses an enormous potential in the given sector, is one of the exporting states of natural gas. Gas chemistry industry is also developed and its production with a wide range of assortment is exported to work markets. In this connection, our country is ready for fruitful cooperation with leading energy companies of the UAE.
The transport logistics sphere where are wide opportunities for implementation of projects for formation of combined transport corridors with involvement of port infrastructure of the both countries is looked upon as a strategic area of partnership. .
As known, in 2018 on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea the new international seaport of Turkmenbashi was commissioned into operation. Today, this is a large multifunctional terminal of international level equipped with advanced technologies. Its potential, in particular, enables to establish connection by sea routes of the Near East, and Middle East, Indian Ocean. Thus, the international seaport of Turkmenbashi has all opportunities without exaggeration, to become a large transport hub in the continent in the direction of East-West and North –South. In this context, the logistic “aggregation” of international seaport of Turkmenbashi and ports of the UAE have great prospects.
Among other topical areas of cooperation are agriculture, communications and manufacturing and chemical industries, introduction of advanced technologies.
Interaction in the sphere of city planning is also looked upon as promising one. Today, a grandiose project is realized in Turkmenistan in his area – construction of the new administration centre of Akhal region, which is now at its final stage. The given complex of projects is unique with is technical and technological parameters and serves as an example of innovation concept of the “smart city”. Besides it, realization of another mega project, “Ashgabat city” that includes itself convenient residential houses, designed for tens of thousands of people, road and transport network, wide ecological zones, entertainment and education centres, was given a start. All this opens wide opportunities for efficient partnership.
Thus, large-scale projects initiated by Turkmenistan in various sectors of economy create favourable prospects for intensification of Turkmen-Emirati cooperation, including investment activity and fruitful business contacts.
As for the humanitarian links, intensification of cooperation in science, education, culture and art are called to become a powerful factor to rapprochement of our people, strengthening of links of friendship between them. Turkmenistan and UAE have a rich historical heritage, old unique traditions and customs. Exchange of experience in the given sphere, reciprocal organization of joint events –Days of culture, exhibitions, performance of cultural workers can serve a noble mission – mutual environment of national cultures.
Cooperation in sports is also more important. In September of 2017, Ashgabat successfully hosted the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. These games in which athletes from UAE participated, created good opportunities for expansion of cooperation in the given area.
Having expressed confidence that the present meeting, which is held in the atmosphere of trust and openness, will give a new powerful impetus to interstate partnership, Serdar Berdimuhamedov thanked President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for fruitful talks, conveying to the brotherly people of the United Arab Emirates his wishes of peace and wellbeing.
Upon completion of talks with full delegation in presence of presidents of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the ceremony of signing of bilateral documents took place.
They included the following: Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of the United Arab Emirates for 2023–2024; Agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs affairs between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the United Arab Emirates; Memorandum of mutual understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates for cooperation in agriculture and food security; Memorandum of mutual understanding between the Cybersecurity Service of «Türkmenaragatnaşyk» Agency of the Transport and Communications Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan and the Cyber Security Council of the United Arab Emirates for cooperation in cybersecurity; Memorandum of mutual understanding between the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy; Memorandum of mutual understanding between the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates for cooperation in education; Memorandum of mutual understanding between the Financial Monitoring Service at the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and Financial Intelligence Unit of the United Arab Emirates for cooperation in exchange of financial information connected with legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime and financing of terrorism; Memorandum of mutual understanding between the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Finance of the United Arab Emirates for fiscal and technical issues; Memorandum of mutual understanding between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
By the outcome of the official visit of the President of Turkmenistan to the UAE, a joint statement of Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates was adopted.
This was followed by a one-to-one high-level meeting.
The subject of a thorough discussion was the issues related to the implementation of the bilateral agreements reached, aimed at the optimal realization of the potential of the Turkmen-Emirati cooperation, diversification of its directions. In this regard, presidents of Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates underlined significance of a pack of documents signed today which supplemented the contractual legal basis of interstate cooperation.
At that, as a specific example, one can cite the participation of the UAE in the implementation of a number of projects implemented in Turkmenistan over the past years. Fruitful contacts have been established with investment and financial institutions of the United Arab Emirates, in particular, with the Abu Dhabi Development Fund.
An equally important segment of the Turkmen-Emirati cooperation is education, science, culture and sports.
The parties also exchanged views on a number of topical aspects of the regional and global agenda of mutual interest, which primarily concerns ensuring global peace, security and sustainable development.
Having thanked the President of the United Arab Emirates once again for hospitality and attention to development of interstate relations, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov invited Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit Turkmenistan with an official visit. The invitation was accepted with gratitude. The terms of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.
At the end of the meeting, the heads of the two states expressed satisfaction with the results of the talks, which were of a confidential, friendly and at the same time businesslike nature and became clear evidence of the desire of Turkmenistan and the UAE to bring traditional cooperation to a qualitatively new level.
Then, the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, together with the participants in the ceremony of signing bilateral documents, were photographed against the picturesque background of the sea.
On the same day, the head of Turkmenistan met with the Vice President, Prime Minister, Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Presidential Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
During the interested exchange of views of priority issues of Turkmen-Emirati cooperation, it was pointed out that agreements reached in the course of today’s talks and a solid pack of documents signed by heir outcome laid a reliable basis for further development of efficient partnership on long-term basis and realization of new promising joint projects.
At hat, it was again confirmed mutual strive of the sides for further development of mutually beneficial trade and economic relations as well as intensification of humanitarian and cultural links facilitating the strengthening and enrichment of traditionally friendly relations between two countries and peoples.
The official visit of the President of Turkmenistan to the United Arab Emirates continues.
