OREANDA-NEWS. On 17 July 2009 was announced, that President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Chairman of the Russian Union of Oil and Gas Industrialists, Head of the Interstate Oil Company "Soyuzneftegaz" Yuri Shafranik. The meeting with the Turkmen leader was also attended by Vice-Chairman of the Russian Union of Oil and Gas Industrialists Guissa Guchetl.

"Welcoming Yu.Shafranik, the head of state emphasized the traditionally friendly nature of the Turkmen-Russian cooperation, the most important area of which is cooperation in the fuel and energy sector," the press service of the Turkmen President said.

As the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Ashgabat, during the meeting the sides discussed issues relating to the mutually beneficial cooperation. Among possible areas of this cooperation the sides singled out the development of hydrocarbon fields in the Caspian Sea with the use of advanced technologies and expertise available to the company, particularly in the area of utilization of associated gas.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov thanked the head of "Soyuzneftegaz" for assistance in providing training for staff of Turkmenistan's oil and gas industry.

"Turkmenistan can always rely on "Soyuzneftegaz" as a responsible partner," said Yuri Shafranik, confirming his company's commitment to expand the scope of activities in the promising Turkmen market.