Turkmen President Expected To Pay Official Visit To Tajikistan

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, April 17



By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:



Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov plans to pay an official visit to Tajikistan, a message from the Turkmen government said on April 16.



This issue was touched upon during the negotiations with Tajikistan's Foreign Minister Sirodzhiddin Aslov at Turkmenistan's Foreign Ministry.



"During the consultations, the parties focused on the issues related to the upcoming official visit of Turkmen president to Tajikistan," the message from the country's government said.



The parties emphasized the need for further strengthening of the political dialogue at a high-level, as well as developing of cooperation through diplomatic missions and international organizations, according to the message of Turkmen government.



The two Central Asian countries regard the trade and economic sector, electricity, textile and light industry, agriculture and transport as priority spheres of cooperation.



The construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railway was launched in 2013. China, Kyrgyzstan and Iran can link in.



Tajikistan lacks energy resources and Turkmenistan is the largest supplier of energy resources in Central Asia.



The existing transport infrastructure allows Ashgabat to export electricity to Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia. Moreover, Dushanbe is interested in increasing oil product procurement in Turkmenistan.



Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was on an official visit to the country, agreed on the fourth direction of the Turkmenistan-China transnational gas pipeline in September 2013. It is expected that new gas branch will be laid along the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-China route.



Translated by L.Z.



Edited by C.N.