Ashgabat is waiting for the next visit of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The heads of neighbouring states will arrive in Turkmenistan to participate in the trilateral Summit of the Presidents of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The leaders of the three Central Asian countries, meeting for the first time in a new format, will discuss topical issues of expanding cooperation in our region.
As is known, in recent years, relations between the three fraternal peoples of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have reached a new level. The foundation of these relations was based on the former historical mutually beneficial relationship of the nearest neighbours.
Political contacts between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan during the years of independence were full of numerous official and working meetings and conversations of the heads of state, as well as members of official delegations.
At meetings that were of a regular nature, the Presidents of the states considered topical issues on the agenda of bilateral and multilateral Turkmen-Tajik relations, determined priority areas and prospects for further cooperation.
With the development of bilateral relations, the contractual and legal basis of relations between the countries was also strengthened. Today, the solid package of documents adopted by the countries form the basis of cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian, investment, tax and customs spheres.
The main areas of cooperation between the countries today are energy, transport and agriculture. Successful cooperation has been established in the field of rail transportation and international road transport.
In humanitarian relations, the Days of Culture of Tajikistan in Turkmenistan and the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in Tajikistan are held. The countries constantly exchange tours of concert performances of cultural and art figures.
Cooperation in the field of science and education has been established. In this way, students from Turkmenistan study in higher educational institutions of Tajikistan, and Tajik students in educational institutions of Turkmenistan.
Cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries has also reached a new level, which also affected the desire of the population of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan to build closer relations, to multifaceted cooperation in accordance with the potential and needs of the peoples.
Over the past decades, relations between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have developed no less friendly and fraternal. In recent years, relations between countries have acquired a qualitatively new dynamic and content.
Constant contacts at the highest and governmental levels contributed to the strengthening of interstate partnership, the effective implementation of its solid diverse potential. Practice has shown that high-level meetings give a powerful impetus to a constructive dialogue built on a bilateral and multilateral basis, especially through international organizations.
Thus, in the development and deepening of Turkmen-Uzbek relations, the recent visits of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Turkmenistan and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to Uzbekistan became such a catalyst.
During last year's official visit to Ashgabat, Sh. Mirziyoyev, a Declaration on deepening strategic partnership was signed between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and more than ten documents on expanding cooperation were adopted. Then the heads of state expressed the opinion that the potential of the two countries must be used effectively and mutually beneficial.
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are two countries with common historical roots. Countries give priority to strengthening cooperation based on similarities in religion, language, culture and national traditions.
There is a wide range of cooperation in Turkmen-Uzbek relations. One of the promising areas of cooperation is the implementation of industrial cooperation projects, the increase in mutual trade and the creation of border trade zones.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan give priority to the use of water and energy resources of transboundary rivers and ensuring the environmental sustainability of the region.
Another important area in bilateral relations is the transport and transit industry. At present, the countries are striving to bring partnership to a qualitatively new level, fully meeting the priorities of socio-economic development and the national interests of the parties.
The current state of Turkmen-Tajik and Turkmen-Uzbek relations is characterized by dynamism and a desire to significantly expand cooperation.
There is no doubt that the upcoming visits of the heads of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to Ashgabat will give interstate relations a new impetus to deepen cooperation.
And the discussion of regional issues of interest to the country within the new trilateral format at the summit of the Presidents of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will be another important step in deepening mutually beneficial relations.
Nazar Nyyazov,
lecturer at the Institute of International Relations of the MFA of Turkmenistan.
