OREANDA-NEWS. July 15, 2008. Ashgabat hosted the first meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Afghani commission for trade and economic and technical co-operation. The representative delegation led by Minister of Economy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Co-Chairman of the intergovernmental commission Mohammad Jalil Sams had arrived in the Turkmen capital to participate in the meeting. Minister of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan G. Gurbanmyradov co-chaired the commission.

During the talks reaffirming the reciprocal interest in establishing full-scale partnership the participants exchanged views on the priority fields of co-operation and implementation of the previous agreements. It was noted that being keenly interested in sustainable social and economic development of the neighbouring country Turkmenistan had the large-scale plans for Afghanistan that would create incentive for peaceful construction in this country on the one hand and, on the other hand, serve as an essential factor for enhancing international co-operation. The talks focused on, first of all, the large-scale regional energy and transport projects initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Discussing the crucial aspects of co-operation the Turkmen partners informed of adherence to the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project that would foster development of Afghanistan’s economic and social infrastructure. To encourage energy co-operation Turkmenistan stood ready to collaborate in exploration and development of Afghanistan’s oil and gas deposits in the regions bordering on Afghanistan.

The participants stated that in recent years Turkmenistan and Afghanistan had implemented the important joint projects including construction of the power facilities in the Afghan provinces and enhanced the trade and economic relations; the Afghan enterprises opened the branches and representation offices in Turkmenistan that was proved by the steady growth of Turkmen-Afghani trade turnover.

Noting the importance of maintaining the dialogue between the two nations bound with the common historical, spiritual and cultural ties over centuries the participants focused on overall expansion of humanitarian co-operation. The sides agreed to hold the Days of Afghani Cinematography in Turkmenistan in Ashgabat in 2009 and the Days of Turkmen Cinematography in Afghanistan in 2010. A meeting of the journalists and experts in printing industry of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan was scheduled for the second half of the current year. The Afghani delegation expressed keen interest in collaborating in the sphere of sport.