Today, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, traveled to the State of Qatar, where he held a summit meeting in the context of the development of comprehensive Turkmen-Qatari relations, and also became an honored guest at one of the matches of the World Cup in Doha.

The interest shown by the head of Turkmenistan in the sports festival, which united football players and fans of one of the most exciting sports from different regions of the planet, is another evidence of the great attention paid in our country to the development and popularization of sports, strengthening fruitful international cooperation in this field.

Before flying to the friendly country at the Ashgabat International Airport, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov had a talk with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to Turkmenistan Ghanem bin Abdullah Al-Romayhi.

After flying to the capital of the State of Qatar, the presidential airliner landed at the Doha International Airport. The head of Turkmenistan was met here by Qatar’s State Minister Sheikh Fahd bin Faisal Al Thani and other officials.

As it’s known, Qatar is considered one of the sports states in the Middle East. Khalifa International Stadium, located in the center of Doha, at the foot of the country’s tallest skyscraper, Aspire Tower, is part of the Doha Sports City Sports Complex and has been Qatar’s main football stadium since its opening in 1976.

Then, in the hall for distinguished guests of this stadium, a bilateral meeting was held between President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Cordially welcoming the President of Turkmenistan, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani thanked the head of state Serdar Berdimuhamedov for accepting the invitation to visit Qatar, stressing that this visit is regarded as evidence of strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two fraternal peoples and fruitful interstate dialogue.

Expressing sincere gratitude to the Emir of Qatar for the invitation to visit Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the hospitality extended, the head of Turkmenistan, President of the National Olympic Committee, Honored Coach of Turkmenistan conveyed greetings and good wishes from the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of the Milli Gengesh Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Noting the high organization of the international sports forum held in a friendly country for the first time, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that this largest event of the year will make a worthy contribution to promoting the values and importance of sports in the lives of people around the world.

Further, the state and prospects of interstate cooperation were discussed during the meeting. The sides were unanimous in the opinion that the current visit of the Turkmen delegation to Qatar will serve to further develop relations between the two countries.

In this regard, it was discussed the issue of the forthcoming opening of the diplomatic Representation of Turkmenistan in Doha of the State of Qatar, which will facilitate the further strengthening of bilateral cooperation.

Among the priority and most promising areas of cooperation were the trade and economic sphere and the fuel and energy sector, which is fundamental in the economy of both states with huge reserves of hydrocarbon resources.

The interlocutors also touched upon the issues of further development of humanitarian ties, which are based on the cultural and historical community of the two peoples, traditional ties of friendship and brotherhood.

Speaking about the prospects of economic and cultural cooperation, the head of Turkmenistan and the Emir of Qatar stressed the huge potential of partnership and mutual readiness to realize it for the benefit of both countries.

At the end of the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, thanking the Emir of Qatar for his great attention to the development of bilateral relations, once again wished the head of state a successful sports event.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addressed wishes of peace, prosperity, happiness and well-being to the peoples of friendly countries.

Then, the Prime Minister of the State of Qatar, Minister of Internal Affairs Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani warmly welcomed the President of Turkmenistan in the box for honored guests of the Khalifa Stadium.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and head of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) Gianni Infantino also warmly welcomed each other here. The head of FIFA emphasized the importance of the current visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Qatar for the development of international relations in the field of sports, especially football. It was noted that sport and the Olympic movement are developing widely in Turkmenistan, and the importance of FIFA’s assistance in joining efforts at the international level for the wide dissemination of such a sport as football was emphasized.

The head of Turkmenistan and the FIFA President exchanged good wishes and took a photo for memory.

Then President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, after watching the 1/8 World Cup match taking place here at that time, proceeded to Doha International Airport, where, after saying goodbye to representatives of the Qatari side, boarded an airliner that headed for Ashgabat.

Upon arrival in the capital, the head of state was met at the International Airport by officials, including the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Turkmenistan Ghanem bin Abdullah Al-Romayhi, who congratulated President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on a successful visit, expressing confidence that its results will promote further strengthening cooperation between the two countries.