President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received the Japanese journalists - the representatives and correspondents of Japan Broadcasting Corporation NHK and a number of the national newspapers at the Oguzhan palace complex.
Cordially greeting the journalists the Turkmen leader thanked them for showing an interest in modern Turkmenistan, the accomplishments of our country, the achievements in implementing the ambitious programmes and the international initiatives of the neutral state.
The representatives of the mass media of the friendly country, who arrived in Ashgabat on the eve of an official visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Japan, expressed their immense gratitude to the Turkmen leader for the opportunity of a personal meeting.
The President of Turkmenistan had a group photography taken at the request of the Japanese journalists.
Then the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov answered the journalists’ questions. The representatives of the Turkmen mass media attended the meeting.
Mr. Eri Okada, NHK:
- Dear Mr. President! Cordial, friendly relations have been established between our two countries which your visit to Japan in December 2009 contributed to. How would you describe the present level of cooperation? What in your opinion is most promising and priority in the context of your upcoming visit to Japan?
- Japan is one of the leading trade partners of Turkmenistan in the Asia -Pacific region. Despite the geographical remoteness of the Country of the Rising Sun, world-renowned Japanese brands, the products of Japanese manufacturers occupy a significant niche in the Turkmen market.
At the same time, there are the opportunities to build up Turkmen-Japanese relations as their present level does not reflect fully the potential of the sides. The activities of Turkmenistan-Japan Economic Committee, which is to identify key areas for interaction and specify the common approaches to building mutually beneficial cooperation at a new stage of interstate relations, contributes to expanding traditional Turkmen-Japanese cooperation.
From this point of view, I would characterize this level as the basis on which all the conditions to bring cooperation to a new stage have formed today.
The ambitious investment projects are being implemented and financed in Turkmenistan.
Trade relations between the two countries should be enhanced further in order to put these projects into life.
In my opinion, trade relations between our countries should develop through improving their commodity composition and increasing imports of high-tech equipment to implement the ongoing and future ambitious investment projects in Turkmenistan.
The key sectors of Turkmen economy, where Japan's advanced practices are in high demand today, include such sectors as oil refining, innovation communication and telecommunications infrastructure, medicine and healthcare, science and technology.
The strategic areas for cooperation include the fuel and energy sector, where Turkmenistan relies on advanced technology for extraction and processing of resources, the industrial sector where the national policy is aimed at creating competitive export- oriented industries and maritime transport and port infrastructure, technological cooperation in modernization and re-equipment of enterprises and promoting the production of high-quality goods.
As for the prospects of cooperation, I believe that it is necessary, first of all, to intensify an exchange of information between the sides; I mean wide informational support, the information of potential Japanese partners of the capacity of Turkmenistan's economy and industry, investment cooperation and its legal framework.
The upcoming visit is to give impetus to these processes and aimed at specifying counter-offers in the economic sector as well as in the cultural and humanitarian spheres.
Yu Tamura, Yomiuri Shimbun:
- In recent years the whole world, as we know, has faced the global economic crisis. How did Turkmenistan cope with this problem and what exactly was done to overcome the crisis?
- I have repeatedly emphasized that Turkmenistan has entered the phase of economic transformations when the global economic crisis has exposed a number of challenges to balance in the labour market and capital. In this respect, our advantage was that we had an opportunity to develop our own model of economic development given the historical lessons of the global economy. This model, absorbing the experience of many countries, formed on the basis of a flexible society-oriented strategy aimed at promoting national interests and integration of Turkmenistan in the world community in line with global trends as a decent, serious and responsible partner.
That is, on the one hand, Turkmenistan, for objective reasons, turned out to be involved in the global economic crisis, and on the other hand, managed to declare itself as a country with the strong and stable economy able to withstand the adverse impact of external factors by using the profound potential to minimize the effects of the crisis on the national economy.
The timely reforms in the banking sector enabled to ensure financial stability and sustainable socio-economic development of Turkmenistan and the consistent implementation of the reforms in the credit and monetary, financial and fiscal spheres preconditioned high economic performance. In this regard, the key components of economic growth in Turkmenistan were an increase in productive resources and a pro-active investment policy aimed at the employment of funds in the areas where they are expected to have the most maximum social long-term effect.
We can proudly say today that Turkmenistan not only has solved this problem, but also has made a powerful leap forward in recent years to rank among the most dynamically developing countries which is recognized by the authoritative international public and financial organizations.
Kazuhiro Sekine, Asahi Shimbun:
- Turkmenistan ranks among the oil and gas powers of the world. Which priorities, in your opinion, are fundamental: mining, exploration, transportation or deep processing of hydrocarbon resources on site?
- The fundamental priority of Turkmenistan's oil and gas policy are national interests. The tool to promote them through this sector which is a basic one in Turkmen economy, is a well thought-out investment policy, covering a wide range of areas: from the development of new oil and gas fields to an increase in the depth of processing of raw materials, enhancement of competitiveness of domestically manufactured products, expansion of consumer markets and diversification of transit of Turkmenistan's energy to world market through the construction of extensive pipeline networks.
An investment policy provides for the promotion of long-term partnership with leading international companies in geological exploration and construction of surface facilities in fields on land and offshore area in the Caspian Sea, an increase in production, processing and export of resources, technological modernization of the industry and the development of infrastructure.
Thus, our strategy in the oil and gas sector focuses on its integrated innovative development and an increase in processing capacity given the current market situation. Increased oil and gas production, processing and transportation facilitate the development of the domestic energy, transport, chemical and petrochemical, telecommunications, light industries, logistics, service, etc. Eventually, all this contributes to improving the welfare of Turkmen citizens, the quality of life of the people.
It is this that the policy of diversification of energy transit and development of multivariant pipeline infrastructure is aimed at, pursuing which our country has implemented two large-scale projects to transit energy to world markets: Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline and Turkmenistan-Iran gas pipeline, along with the use of traditional routes.
Another ambitious energy project - Turkmenistan -Afghanistan- Pakistan -India ( TAPI) gas pipeline - is at the final preparatory stage today as well as the projects in European direction which are under discussion.
We are ready to consider any of the possible routes for Turkmen gas exports, the implementation of which will play its role in creating the reliable system of global energy security. As we have said, Turkmenistan is ready to use its enormous energy potential most effectively in the interests of neighbouring and remote countries. It is this that our country's initiatives to build a new architecture of global energy security in particular put forward during the sessions of the UN General Assembly are aimed at. I also emphasize that the most important factor for security of transportation is to ensure environmental safety that Turkmenistan pays special attention to.
Maaki Sasaki, Sankei Shimbun:
- How do you manage to combine the policy of neutrality with the response to global issues, such as, for example, maintenance of environmental security given an increasing adverse impact of risk factors on the environment?
- Our achievements in many fields, the successful implementation of joint international projects are largely stipulated by neutrality of Turkmenistan. I have reiterated: we have never politicized and are not politicizing economic cooperation. And this position allows us to develop equal mutually beneficial relations with different countries, companies, international organisations and consortiums.
Cooperation with the United Nations Organisation that we view as the modern system of global interaction, a guarantor of preservation and maintenance of peace and balance of interests in the world arena, sustainability of the existing architecture of security has always remained a strategic priority of Turkmenistan.
Environmental security as a factor of success of all other joint projects and a guarantee of global sustainable development has a special place in international cooperation of Turkmenistan.
Today, the level of environmental awareness determines the level of the development of any society since the conception of the value of a human life, harmony of nature and civilization, spiritual guidelines lies in this sphere. All this is reflected in the policy of neutrality of our country, combining the spiritual and moral imperatives and economic interests of the state in its conception.
An economic situation in the world map, its new trends can not be considered without an environmental aspect. It is from this point of view that Turkmenistan puts forward its environmental initiatives at the international forums. These are the proposals put forward at the World Conference Rio+20 in Brazil to open the UN Interregional Centre for Climate Change in Ashgabat, address climate change issues and save the Aral Sea, maintain environmental wellbeing of the Caspian Sea, effectively manage water resources on a regional scale and adopt green technologies in the energy sector.
Committed to the status of neutrality, Turkmenistan stands ready to take over the functions of an honest broker in multilateral international negotiation processes on these and other issues which require collective actions. Acting successfully in this role several times, our state has proven the effectiveness of this foreign policy model which involves not isolation but active involvement of the country, its peace -building capacity in joint search for mutually acceptable solutions to the problems on the global agenda.
Seiji Hara, Tokyo Shimbun:
- Turkmenistan like Japan is a country with ancient culture and rich national traditions. I would like to know how you manage to maintain cultural continuity and at the same time meet the challenges of modern civilization.
- How relying on the heritage to keep up with the times and look to the future with confidence? I think all Japanese people know the answer to this question. Traditions and innovations are the two poles of progress. They cannot exist without each other, the best and useful innovations that have social significance eventually become a tradition in which the experience and spiritual values of previous generations are crystallized and stored. The life of any tradition suggests its development as well, not only its reproduction, but also its renewal, actualization.
Everything new is created only on the basis of previous achievements. We can see it by the example of Japan. Western experts are trying to understand the secrets of the Japanese economic miracle, and in this respect we are much closer to the understanding of its essence because the similar values and philosophical views underlie our cultures. The mentality of our people is based on the respect for the centuries-old way of life, the fidelity to the traditions and the pride for their country. It can seem paradoxical but it is the national traditions and customs that underlie the progressive changes in the life of Japan, the greatest world power known not only as a recognized leader in the automotive industry , mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering and electronics, but also as the country with the unique rich culture.
Having taken the road of modernization and adoption of advanced technologies in all the spheres of life, Turkmenistan also cherishes the historical and cultural heritage of its ancestors, who have contributed to the treasury of world civilization. The major social and economic changes taking place in Turkmenistan have impacted the cultural policy of the state, including all the aspects of social life and not just aimed at maintaining and promoting the cultural heritage, but also to interpreting the concepts of the heritage, which implies the involvement of new ideas in the orbit of culture to achieve the social development goals.
Culture is viewed by the state as the consolidating and inspiring force, the carrier of moral and aesthetic criteria, the basis of democratic and social transformations, as an essential resource for the development of the state and the nation. Certainly, the economy is expected to support the functioning of society, but the purpose of the functioning of the society is not the development of economy, but the development of an individual, his creative potential. It is culture that opens up new vistas for this development. It is the cultural traditions and national heritage that lay the foundation for our advancement. And here the roads of Japan and Turkmenistan are very close - these are the roads of harmony of traditions and innovations, history and modernity.
Hitoshi Ohmae, Mainichi Shimbun:
- Mr. President, if you do not mind, a personal question . We know that you actively do sports, carry out intensive research and creative activities. How do you manage to combine all this with your multifaceted state activity?
- Probably every modern man faces the problem of lack of time, especially lack of free time - such is the pace of our lives. I see the way out in my case in self-organisation and self-discipline. I think this is obvious as any leader, organizing others, above all, should be able to organize himself and set an example of dedication to work. By the way, the Japanese practices have many useful and quite effective recommendations in this regard.
So, sport and physical activity help to restore energy, active sports, meditation and contemplation of the beauty of nature - creative forces, riding and communication with horses give me special joy.
You know, actually, preoccupation with work does not take time, but stirs and encourages the active interest in many things. I conduct research on different subjects with great pleasure, literary experiments, play musical instruments; I like to read books... For me these moments, though rare, are precious.
Devoting myself to serving my beloved people, who have given me the great honour to be responsible for their fate, I am trying to be worthy of that trust. Even when I am not engaged in the state activity, I am with my people in all my thoughts and heart. Because I see my objective in ensuring a peaceful, happy and prosperous life of compatriots, who should enjoy the decent conditions for work and rest…
***
Thanking the Japanese journalists for the professional work, the President of Turkmenistan wished the journalists of the friendly country great success in their important work and cordially bade farewell. Upon concluding the meeting, the Adviser and Envoy of the Embassy of Japan in the Russian Federation expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the Japanese journalists to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for giving the time and the substantive interview, wishing the Turkmen leader a successful visit to Japan.
Cordially greeting the journalists the Turkmen leader thanked them for showing an interest in modern Turkmenistan, the accomplishments of our country, the achievements in implementing the ambitious programmes and the international initiatives of the neutral state.
The representatives of the mass media of the friendly country, who arrived in Ashgabat on the eve of an official visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Japan, expressed their immense gratitude to the Turkmen leader for the opportunity of a personal meeting.
The President of Turkmenistan had a group photography taken at the request of the Japanese journalists.
Then the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov answered the journalists’ questions. The representatives of the Turkmen mass media attended the meeting.
Mr. Eri Okada, NHK:
- Dear Mr. President! Cordial, friendly relations have been established between our two countries which your visit to Japan in December 2009 contributed to. How would you describe the present level of cooperation? What in your opinion is most promising and priority in the context of your upcoming visit to Japan?
- Japan is one of the leading trade partners of Turkmenistan in the Asia -Pacific region. Despite the geographical remoteness of the Country of the Rising Sun, world-renowned Japanese brands, the products of Japanese manufacturers occupy a significant niche in the Turkmen market.
At the same time, there are the opportunities to build up Turkmen-Japanese relations as their present level does not reflect fully the potential of the sides. The activities of Turkmenistan-Japan Economic Committee, which is to identify key areas for interaction and specify the common approaches to building mutually beneficial cooperation at a new stage of interstate relations, contributes to expanding traditional Turkmen-Japanese cooperation.
From this point of view, I would characterize this level as the basis on which all the conditions to bring cooperation to a new stage have formed today.
The ambitious investment projects are being implemented and financed in Turkmenistan.
Trade relations between the two countries should be enhanced further in order to put these projects into life.
In my opinion, trade relations between our countries should develop through improving their commodity composition and increasing imports of high-tech equipment to implement the ongoing and future ambitious investment projects in Turkmenistan.
The key sectors of Turkmen economy, where Japan's advanced practices are in high demand today, include such sectors as oil refining, innovation communication and telecommunications infrastructure, medicine and healthcare, science and technology.
The strategic areas for cooperation include the fuel and energy sector, where Turkmenistan relies on advanced technology for extraction and processing of resources, the industrial sector where the national policy is aimed at creating competitive export- oriented industries and maritime transport and port infrastructure, technological cooperation in modernization and re-equipment of enterprises and promoting the production of high-quality goods.
As for the prospects of cooperation, I believe that it is necessary, first of all, to intensify an exchange of information between the sides; I mean wide informational support, the information of potential Japanese partners of the capacity of Turkmenistan's economy and industry, investment cooperation and its legal framework.
The upcoming visit is to give impetus to these processes and aimed at specifying counter-offers in the economic sector as well as in the cultural and humanitarian spheres.
Yu Tamura, Yomiuri Shimbun:
- In recent years the whole world, as we know, has faced the global economic crisis. How did Turkmenistan cope with this problem and what exactly was done to overcome the crisis?
- I have repeatedly emphasized that Turkmenistan has entered the phase of economic transformations when the global economic crisis has exposed a number of challenges to balance in the labour market and capital. In this respect, our advantage was that we had an opportunity to develop our own model of economic development given the historical lessons of the global economy. This model, absorbing the experience of many countries, formed on the basis of a flexible society-oriented strategy aimed at promoting national interests and integration of Turkmenistan in the world community in line with global trends as a decent, serious and responsible partner.
That is, on the one hand, Turkmenistan, for objective reasons, turned out to be involved in the global economic crisis, and on the other hand, managed to declare itself as a country with the strong and stable economy able to withstand the adverse impact of external factors by using the profound potential to minimize the effects of the crisis on the national economy.
The timely reforms in the banking sector enabled to ensure financial stability and sustainable socio-economic development of Turkmenistan and the consistent implementation of the reforms in the credit and monetary, financial and fiscal spheres preconditioned high economic performance. In this regard, the key components of economic growth in Turkmenistan were an increase in productive resources and a pro-active investment policy aimed at the employment of funds in the areas where they are expected to have the most maximum social long-term effect.
We can proudly say today that Turkmenistan not only has solved this problem, but also has made a powerful leap forward in recent years to rank among the most dynamically developing countries which is recognized by the authoritative international public and financial organizations.
Kazuhiro Sekine, Asahi Shimbun:
- Turkmenistan ranks among the oil and gas powers of the world. Which priorities, in your opinion, are fundamental: mining, exploration, transportation or deep processing of hydrocarbon resources on site?
- The fundamental priority of Turkmenistan's oil and gas policy are national interests. The tool to promote them through this sector which is a basic one in Turkmen economy, is a well thought-out investment policy, covering a wide range of areas: from the development of new oil and gas fields to an increase in the depth of processing of raw materials, enhancement of competitiveness of domestically manufactured products, expansion of consumer markets and diversification of transit of Turkmenistan's energy to world market through the construction of extensive pipeline networks.
An investment policy provides for the promotion of long-term partnership with leading international companies in geological exploration and construction of surface facilities in fields on land and offshore area in the Caspian Sea, an increase in production, processing and export of resources, technological modernization of the industry and the development of infrastructure.
Thus, our strategy in the oil and gas sector focuses on its integrated innovative development and an increase in processing capacity given the current market situation. Increased oil and gas production, processing and transportation facilitate the development of the domestic energy, transport, chemical and petrochemical, telecommunications, light industries, logistics, service, etc. Eventually, all this contributes to improving the welfare of Turkmen citizens, the quality of life of the people.
It is this that the policy of diversification of energy transit and development of multivariant pipeline infrastructure is aimed at, pursuing which our country has implemented two large-scale projects to transit energy to world markets: Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline and Turkmenistan-Iran gas pipeline, along with the use of traditional routes.
Another ambitious energy project - Turkmenistan -Afghanistan- Pakistan -India ( TAPI) gas pipeline - is at the final preparatory stage today as well as the projects in European direction which are under discussion.
We are ready to consider any of the possible routes for Turkmen gas exports, the implementation of which will play its role in creating the reliable system of global energy security. As we have said, Turkmenistan is ready to use its enormous energy potential most effectively in the interests of neighbouring and remote countries. It is this that our country's initiatives to build a new architecture of global energy security in particular put forward during the sessions of the UN General Assembly are aimed at. I also emphasize that the most important factor for security of transportation is to ensure environmental safety that Turkmenistan pays special attention to.
Maaki Sasaki, Sankei Shimbun:
- How do you manage to combine the policy of neutrality with the response to global issues, such as, for example, maintenance of environmental security given an increasing adverse impact of risk factors on the environment?
- Our achievements in many fields, the successful implementation of joint international projects are largely stipulated by neutrality of Turkmenistan. I have reiterated: we have never politicized and are not politicizing economic cooperation. And this position allows us to develop equal mutually beneficial relations with different countries, companies, international organisations and consortiums.
Cooperation with the United Nations Organisation that we view as the modern system of global interaction, a guarantor of preservation and maintenance of peace and balance of interests in the world arena, sustainability of the existing architecture of security has always remained a strategic priority of Turkmenistan.
Environmental security as a factor of success of all other joint projects and a guarantee of global sustainable development has a special place in international cooperation of Turkmenistan.
Today, the level of environmental awareness determines the level of the development of any society since the conception of the value of a human life, harmony of nature and civilization, spiritual guidelines lies in this sphere. All this is reflected in the policy of neutrality of our country, combining the spiritual and moral imperatives and economic interests of the state in its conception.
An economic situation in the world map, its new trends can not be considered without an environmental aspect. It is from this point of view that Turkmenistan puts forward its environmental initiatives at the international forums. These are the proposals put forward at the World Conference Rio+20 in Brazil to open the UN Interregional Centre for Climate Change in Ashgabat, address climate change issues and save the Aral Sea, maintain environmental wellbeing of the Caspian Sea, effectively manage water resources on a regional scale and adopt green technologies in the energy sector.
Committed to the status of neutrality, Turkmenistan stands ready to take over the functions of an honest broker in multilateral international negotiation processes on these and other issues which require collective actions. Acting successfully in this role several times, our state has proven the effectiveness of this foreign policy model which involves not isolation but active involvement of the country, its peace -building capacity in joint search for mutually acceptable solutions to the problems on the global agenda.
Seiji Hara, Tokyo Shimbun:
- Turkmenistan like Japan is a country with ancient culture and rich national traditions. I would like to know how you manage to maintain cultural continuity and at the same time meet the challenges of modern civilization.
- How relying on the heritage to keep up with the times and look to the future with confidence? I think all Japanese people know the answer to this question. Traditions and innovations are the two poles of progress. They cannot exist without each other, the best and useful innovations that have social significance eventually become a tradition in which the experience and spiritual values of previous generations are crystallized and stored. The life of any tradition suggests its development as well, not only its reproduction, but also its renewal, actualization.
Everything new is created only on the basis of previous achievements. We can see it by the example of Japan. Western experts are trying to understand the secrets of the Japanese economic miracle, and in this respect we are much closer to the understanding of its essence because the similar values and philosophical views underlie our cultures. The mentality of our people is based on the respect for the centuries-old way of life, the fidelity to the traditions and the pride for their country. It can seem paradoxical but it is the national traditions and customs that underlie the progressive changes in the life of Japan, the greatest world power known not only as a recognized leader in the automotive industry , mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering and electronics, but also as the country with the unique rich culture.
Having taken the road of modernization and adoption of advanced technologies in all the spheres of life, Turkmenistan also cherishes the historical and cultural heritage of its ancestors, who have contributed to the treasury of world civilization. The major social and economic changes taking place in Turkmenistan have impacted the cultural policy of the state, including all the aspects of social life and not just aimed at maintaining and promoting the cultural heritage, but also to interpreting the concepts of the heritage, which implies the involvement of new ideas in the orbit of culture to achieve the social development goals.
Culture is viewed by the state as the consolidating and inspiring force, the carrier of moral and aesthetic criteria, the basis of democratic and social transformations, as an essential resource for the development of the state and the nation. Certainly, the economy is expected to support the functioning of society, but the purpose of the functioning of the society is not the development of economy, but the development of an individual, his creative potential. It is culture that opens up new vistas for this development. It is the cultural traditions and national heritage that lay the foundation for our advancement. And here the roads of Japan and Turkmenistan are very close - these are the roads of harmony of traditions and innovations, history and modernity.
Hitoshi Ohmae, Mainichi Shimbun:
- Mr. President, if you do not mind, a personal question . We know that you actively do sports, carry out intensive research and creative activities. How do you manage to combine all this with your multifaceted state activity?
- Probably every modern man faces the problem of lack of time, especially lack of free time - such is the pace of our lives. I see the way out in my case in self-organisation and self-discipline. I think this is obvious as any leader, organizing others, above all, should be able to organize himself and set an example of dedication to work. By the way, the Japanese practices have many useful and quite effective recommendations in this regard.
So, sport and physical activity help to restore energy, active sports, meditation and contemplation of the beauty of nature - creative forces, riding and communication with horses give me special joy.
You know, actually, preoccupation with work does not take time, but stirs and encourages the active interest in many things. I conduct research on different subjects with great pleasure, literary experiments, play musical instruments; I like to read books... For me these moments, though rare, are precious.
Devoting myself to serving my beloved people, who have given me the great honour to be responsible for their fate, I am trying to be worthy of that trust. Even when I am not engaged in the state activity, I am with my people in all my thoughts and heart. Because I see my objective in ensuring a peaceful, happy and prosperous life of compatriots, who should enjoy the decent conditions for work and rest…
Thanking the Japanese journalists for the professional work, the President of Turkmenistan wished the journalists of the friendly country great success in their important work and cordially bade farewell. Upon concluding the meeting, the Adviser and Envoy of the Embassy of Japan in the Russian Federation expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the Japanese journalists to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for giving the time and the substantive interview, wishing the Turkmen leader a successful visit to Japan.