OREANDA-NEWS. On August 06, 2009 The first meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Pakistani commission closed in the Turkmen capital. Upon concluding the talks the partners signed the bilateral Protocol, reported the Official website turkmenistan.gov.tm.

As was reported the government delegation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan led by Nawabzada Malik Ahmad Khan, State Minister for Foreign Affairs had arrived in the Turkmen capital to take part in the meeting. The Turkmen delegation led by R. Meredov, Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan consisted of the high-ranking officials of the sectoral ministries and departments.

During the talks, which were held in the friendly and constructive atmosphere, the sides exchanged views on the ways to further develop Turkmen-Pakistani cooperation through diversification particularly. The priority fields of mutually advantageous partnership included trade and economy, agriculture, transport and telecommunication, construction.

The focus of the talks was the prospects for cooperation in the fuel and energy sector. In this context the sides focused on the importance and significance of the project on construction of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline for the two countries and the entire region reaffirming the mutual commitment to its implementation.

Intensification of humanitarian cooperation, in the spheres of education, education and science was of particular importance. Expressing the willingness to promote establishing the academic contacts among the educational and research institutions between two countries the participants highly appreciated the significance of enhancing Turkmen-Pakistani cultural contacts deeply rooted in the history.the sides called for expansion of collaboration in the sphere of information technologies and television and radio broadcasting.

The participants discussed the prospects for partnership in tourism industry that opened up the vast opportunities of joint work in the framework of the ongoing project on creation of the world-class seaside resort – Avaza national tourism zone on the Caspian Sea coast.

Summing up the meeting the participants expressed belief that the agreements reached would be filled with a practical content and promote further intensification of the mutually advantageous traditionally friendly dialogue between Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

On behalf of the Pakistani delegation State Minister Nawabzada Malik Ahmad Khan expressed sincere gratitude to the President and the Government of Turkmenistan for the heartfelt welcome noting that the Ashgabat proved the firm intention of two fraternal states to develop full-scale cooperation in mutual interests.

The second meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Pakistani commission will be held in the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan – Islamabad.