Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Turkmen-Kazakh section of Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway (May 11, 2013) President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said: “We are witnessing and taking part in a truly historic event. One of the ambitious transport projects – the construction of the Turkmen-Kazakh section of Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway has been implemented”.
The Turkmen leader noted: “Only the economically strong and stable states that are confident in their future and bound by the ties of genuine friendship, brotherhood and good neighbourliness, aware of common goals and sure of the prospects of long-term cooperation are capable of implementing such ambitious projects.
“The global economy is the complex of factors, including the transport sector as a key one,” the President of Turkmenistan continued. “The stability and balance of world economic relations depend to a large extent on its operational effectiveness. An unhindered and shortest route to the international markets, reliability and security of the supply of goods and services are taking on paramount importance today.
The territory of Central Asia is a natural transport corridor in the north-south and east-west directions, giving an outlet to the world’s largest markets. The implementation of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway project therefore opens up ample opportunities to optimize traffic flows on the Eurasian continent. It gives European countries access to the ports on the Baltic Sea, the commodity and raw materials markets of the Middle East and the Indian Ocean region, significantly reducing the distance and time of transportation.
“In fact,” President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, “it concerns laying the foundations of a new architecture of the geo-economic space linking Central Asia and the Caspian countries with the Black Sea region and Transcaucasia and providing access to the Baltic states and Northern Europe. The project also involves the development of transport infrastructure southward and eastward to enter the major economic centres, such as China, India, Pakistan and countries of the Asia-Pacific region which means the development of a new, greater format of cooperation, serving as an example of a truly innovative thinking in the global geo-economics and a vision of its strategic prospects of development.
“Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway is a significant geopolitical factor,” the leader of Turkmenistan said. “Its operation is an essential component of international partnership in the transport sector. It may have a strong positive impact on the overall situation in the region and beyond, serve as a substantial factor of stability and security in Asia and stabilize the entire system of continental political contacts. Great prospects of the project are evident in the context of the enhancement of cooperation within the international and regional organisations, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization of Economic Cooperation.
Putting the railway into operation is of great importance for our states. It will give a new impetus to economic development of our countries, promotion of employment and development of social and industrial infrastructure and attract substantial foreign investment. All this will serve for the benefit of the people and improve their welfare, the standards and quality of life. In this respect, the project meets the fundamental interests of our peoples.
We can be rightfully proud of having implemented together this important and ambitious project which is a symbol of unbreakable friendship and cooperation between Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and an embodiment of brotherhood and good neighbourliness of our peoples,” President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, wishing: “May this road leads us to new horizons of development and prosperity, concerting our efforts and good will in the name of peace, stability and progress!”
The Turkmen leader noted: “Only the economically strong and stable states that are confident in their future and bound by the ties of genuine friendship, brotherhood and good neighbourliness, aware of common goals and sure of the prospects of long-term cooperation are capable of implementing such ambitious projects.
“The global economy is the complex of factors, including the transport sector as a key one,” the President of Turkmenistan continued. “The stability and balance of world economic relations depend to a large extent on its operational effectiveness. An unhindered and shortest route to the international markets, reliability and security of the supply of goods and services are taking on paramount importance today.
The territory of Central Asia is a natural transport corridor in the north-south and east-west directions, giving an outlet to the world’s largest markets. The implementation of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway project therefore opens up ample opportunities to optimize traffic flows on the Eurasian continent. It gives European countries access to the ports on the Baltic Sea, the commodity and raw materials markets of the Middle East and the Indian Ocean region, significantly reducing the distance and time of transportation.
“In fact,” President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, “it concerns laying the foundations of a new architecture of the geo-economic space linking Central Asia and the Caspian countries with the Black Sea region and Transcaucasia and providing access to the Baltic states and Northern Europe. The project also involves the development of transport infrastructure southward and eastward to enter the major economic centres, such as China, India, Pakistan and countries of the Asia-Pacific region which means the development of a new, greater format of cooperation, serving as an example of a truly innovative thinking in the global geo-economics and a vision of its strategic prospects of development.
“Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway is a significant geopolitical factor,” the leader of Turkmenistan said. “Its operation is an essential component of international partnership in the transport sector. It may have a strong positive impact on the overall situation in the region and beyond, serve as a substantial factor of stability and security in Asia and stabilize the entire system of continental political contacts. Great prospects of the project are evident in the context of the enhancement of cooperation within the international and regional organisations, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization of Economic Cooperation.
Putting the railway into operation is of great importance for our states. It will give a new impetus to economic development of our countries, promotion of employment and development of social and industrial infrastructure and attract substantial foreign investment. All this will serve for the benefit of the people and improve their welfare, the standards and quality of life. In this respect, the project meets the fundamental interests of our peoples.
We can be rightfully proud of having implemented together this important and ambitious project which is a symbol of unbreakable friendship and cooperation between Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and an embodiment of brotherhood and good neighbourliness of our peoples,” President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, wishing: “May this road leads us to new horizons of development and prosperity, concerting our efforts and good will in the name of peace, stability and progress!”