OREANDA-NEWS. March 19, 2009. President of Turkmenistan receives Minister of State for Foreign Trade of Ministry for the Economy, Industry and Employment of French Republic

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the Ministry for the Economy, Industry and Employment of the French Republic Anne-Marie Idrac, who had arrived in Ashgabat leading the representative delegation.

Greeting the guest the Turkmen leader noted that Turkmenistan viewed France as a key business partner with whom it maintained long-term cooperation. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov welcomed the visit of the French representative delegation to Ashgabat aimed at enhancing effective collaboration in mutual interests.

Thanking for the heartfelt welcome Mrs. Anne-Marie Idrac noted that she was very glad to have an opportunity to visit Turkmenistan where the large-scale reforms and grandiose programmes were successfully implemented. The guest said that though it was her first visit she had received evidence of the favourable impact produced by these changes on the look of the Turkmen capital and the life of the people. The Minister of State emphasized that France had great sympathy with and interest in the Turkmen leader’s progressive policy which prioritized wide international cooperation. Noting that her country stood ready to considerably intensify partnership Mrs. Anne-Marie Idrac conveyed the message from President of the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy to the President of Turkmenistan with invitation to pay a visit to France this year.

The invitation was accepted with gratitude. The dates of the visit would be adjusted through the diplomatic channels.

The sides exchanged views on the current condition and perspectives of Turkmen-French cooperation in the bilateral format as well as the framework of the dialogue actively developed between Turkmenistan and the European Union. In particular, the sides considered the opportunities to enhance the potential of cooperation in such priority fields as fuel and energy sector, transport, construction, agriculture, food industry, tourism. The President and his guest emphasized that the profound potential of Turkmen-French partnership must be employed in full in the interests of two peoples.

Mrs. Anne-Marie Idrac noted that France completely shared Turkmenistan’s approaches to cooperation and such an important aspect, in particular, as training highly qualified specialists. In this regard the guest assured the President that the French companies operating in Turkmenistan would pay special attention to training Turkmen specialists.

In conclusion Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished the guest and the members of the delegation success performing in their noble mission in Turkmenistan

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic attended the meeting.