OREANDA-NEWS. January 05, 2010. An official visit of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Turkmenistan has started today. It is symbolic that a new meeting between two leaders opens a series of the forthcoming important intergovernmental talks with other countries of the world in the year 2010 that is another evidence of the specific significance of Turkmen-Iranian relationships, the mutual willingness of the leadership of two fraternal neighbouring countries to offer a new powerful incentive to develop to traditional mutually advantageous cooperation.

The rich history of the relations between the Turkmen and Iranian peoples dates back not only 1,000 or 2,000 years but it is rooted deeply in millennia. Proved over centuries friendship that had to face many trials has become the indisputably greatest asset of two brotherly peoples, who are bound by common cultural, religious and spiritual traditions, a key incentive for the fruitful intergovernmental dialogue developed successfully at bilateral and multilateral levels, particularly within the framework of the large international organisations including the United Nations, the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and others.

Therefore, the coming summit that will certainly become a significant event in the international political life can be regarded as a new step to intensify traditional collaboration that has been filled with a new content and dynamics today as well as an instrument to build a constructive approach to identifying the most effective formats of cooperation in compliance with the priorities of two nations.

The international legal framework including the substantial package of the official bilateral documents signed at the international, intergovernmental and interdepartmental levels has been built during the years of establishing the diplomatic relations between sovereign Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. In accordance with the contracts and agreements that laid the legal foundation for consistent development of political and economic cooperation between two countries the diplomatic missions were opened in Turkmenistan and Iran and dozens of the important joint projects promoting sustainable development of the region were implemented.

These include the project of constriction of the Dovletabad-Sarakhs-Hangeran pipeline that will enable to increase significantly natural gas supplies from Turkmenistan to neighbouring Iran. The leaders of two countries will attend the ceremony of putting this important facility into operation for the importance attached to the new gas route that will foster the bilateral relations in the gas sector.

Enhancing trade and economic contacts is a major illustration of the high dynamics of interstate cooperation that is proved by the steady growth in turnover of commodities between the two neighbouring countries. According to recent statistics, it made up to about USD 2.955, 925 billion in 11 months of 2009, or increased as high as USD 153,225 as compared to the same period of 2008. Joint ventures, traditional specialized commodity exhibitions and, of course, the activity of the intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation established on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to develop the most effective mechanism for regulating trade and economic relations directly promote strengthening business cooperation, increasing mutual interest.

Turkmenistan and Iran attach significant importance to the development of humanitarian cooperation. Thus, the Iranian scientists actively participate in the international scientific conferences in Turkmenistan, the Days of Culture and the applied art exhibition are held in the two countries on a regular basis, other cultural events are jointly organized.

The previous top-level talks and meetings showed that Turkmenistan and Iran have the profound potential and opportunities to intensify further cooperation that is illustrated by the positive dynamics of collaboration in all key fields such as trade, fuel and energy sector, transport.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are expected to continue the dialogue they started to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest as well as specify clearly the new priorities of long-term, equal partnership built on mutual confidence and respect to national interests.

The sides are expected to sign a package of the documents aimed at fostering versatile fruitful cooperation upon concluding the top-level talks.