OREANDA-NEWS. June 28, 2010. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov chaired a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers to consider the priority aspects of the foreign and domestic policies and the important issues of social, economic and cultural development of the country

Opening the meeting the Turkmen leader congratulated those present and the people of Turkmenistan on the coming holiday – the Day of Workers of Culture and Art widely and solemnly celebrated throughout the country.

Then the President gave the floor to Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov, who reported on the results of the recent visit of the official delegation of the People’s Republic of China to our country and the outcomes of the international conference of the states of Central Asia and the Caspian Sea Basin on disarmament issues held under the aegis of the United Nations in the Turkmen capital recently.

Focusing on the high effectiveness of the Turkmen-Chinese talks in Ashgabat that illustrated the intention of the two friendly countries to steadily intensify fruitful cooperation in the trade, economic and humanitarian spheres, the Vice Premier said that the major outcomes included the agreement for further construction of the longest transnational gas starting from late 2010.

Noting that the discussion of the possibilities to increase ‘blue fuel’ exports to Chinese consumers had been initiated during the meeting between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and PRC President Hu Jintao in Tashkent, R. Meredov focused on the significance of the top-level meetings that had become more frequent in the past years and gave a powerful impetus to foster the traditional intergovernmental dialogue successfully developed in both bilateral and multilateral formats including in the framework of the large international organisations.

Noting that the international conference on disarmament held in Ashgabat under the aegis the UN could be viewed as a landmark, historic event and a critical step to develop the dialogue, the Vice Premier said that the forum participants were unanimous that Ashgabat provided a platform for discussing topical issues that required concerted efforts of the world community and goodwill.

Showing satisfaction with the report, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underscored the importance of steadily enhancing traditional mutually advantageous cooperation with China as one of Turkmenistan’s strategic partners. The Turkmen leader said that the Turkmen people had always valued the unbreakable ties of friendship that bound the Turkmen and Chinese peoples and laid the firm foundation for bilateral cooperation invariably built on equality, mutual confidence and benefit focusing on the significance of the large-scale joint project for construction of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline that brought real benefits to the present and future generations of the friendly peoples of two countries and the entire region.

Focusing on the significance of the international conference on disarmament, the Turkmen leader emphasized that conducting the forums of this kind in close cooperation with interested partners including particularly the states of the region and the international and regional organisations operating there enabled to work out uniform approaches to and strategy for addressing urgent problems and challenges of the modern world. The Turkmen leader said that pursuing the peace-loving and transparent policy, Turkmenistan was able to use the status of neutrality delegated by the international community to facilitate this process and make it steady and positive. The President expressed gratitude to the forum organizers for the thorough preparations and the high level of organization.

Focusing on the importance of covering widely all events taking place in the country, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave instructions to the relevant high-ranking officials to arrange the meetings with journalists at the beginning of every week to inform them of the activities scheduled and held in the country.

Chairperson of the Mejlis A. Nurberdyeva reported on the work carried out by the national Parliament to further modernize the national regulatory framework in compliance with the key priorities of the state policy and the legal reforms initiated by the Turkmen leader.

Focusing on the need to intensify the activity of the Mejlis aimed at updating the national legislation to promote the social and economic reforms launched in Turkmenistan, the Turkmen leader underscored the importance of carrying out the activity in close collaboration with local self-government bodies and public organisations to elucidate the essence and significance of new legislative act to the population.

Vice Premier T. Japarov reported on the progress in implementing the social and economic development programmes and fulfilling the instructions of the President to enhance further cooperation with the international financial structure.

Emphasizing that the key success factors included the measures aimed at modernizing the national economy and promoting the economic growth, the Turkmen leader focused on the need to continue the work in this field.

Touching upon the issue regarded to expansion partnership with the world’s leading banking organisations and attraction of investments to the country, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov that these issues ranked among the major objectives of Turkmenistan’s economic policy. The Turkmen leader focused on the importance of taking the measures aimed at intensifying effective cooperation with foreign partners in mutual interests.

Vice Premier H. Muhammedov reported on the work done in the sectors under his supervision and the preparations for the Turkmen-Uzbek business forum, which would be conducted in the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan on July 8-9 and the third meeting of the Turkmen-Austrian commission scheduled for August.

Noting that the key aspects of the foreign policy strategy of the Turkmen state included enhancement and development of mutually advantageous partnership with the neighbouring states as well as other countries of the world, the Turkmen leader focused on the significance of the Turkmen-Uzbek business forum in Tashkent. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that this event would contribute to intensifying traditionally friendly relations and fruitful cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan in the interests of the two brotherly peoples.

Vice Premier D. Orazov reported on the work done in the construction sector and the progress of construction of important social and economic facilities throughout Turkmenistan. In this context the Vice Premier reported on the progress of construction of a new building designed for 200 patients in the Yyly Suw sanatorium in Baharly Etrap Ahal Velayat.

Underscoring the dynamic pace of implementation of the large-scale reform programmes providing for construction of numerous industrial, social, cultural and housing facilities launched throughout the country, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the need to develop health resort infrastructure in the country that would offer a broad range of services meeting international standards to the population. In this regard the Turkmen leader emphasized that the concern for the health and wellbeing of the Turkmen people would be always a key priority of the policy of the Turkmen state.

Vice Premier B. Hojamuhammedov reported on the progress in implementing the programme for development of the oil and gas industry and the measures taken to implement the agreements reached in Ashgabat during the recent talks with the delegations of the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran on expansion of gas cooperation.

Commenting on the report President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that these agreements would contribute to enhancing and expanding cooperation with China and Iran built on equality and mutual benefit

The Turkmen leader said that timely implementation of the designated plans was of particular importance for further promotion of Turkmenistan’ energy strategy aimed at diversifying export routes and ensuring stable and reliable transit of Turkmen energy to world markets. In this regard the President said that the grandiose tasks to steadily increase oil and gas production and modernize extractive and refining industries were set to the fuel and energy sector of the country that required integrated and serious approaches.

The President severely reprimanded Vice Premier B. Hojamuhammedov for the unsatisfactory performance of the official duties.

Vice Premier M. Yazmuhammedova reported on the preparations of the programme of cultural activities for the second half-year. On behalf of Turkmen workers of culture and art the Vice Premier expressed deep gratitude to the Turkmen leader for his unceasing concern for the national culture and providing a splendid opportunity to celebrate widely and solemnly the professional holiday each year.

Focusing on the need to thoroughly develop the themes and organize cultural activities in a proper manner that should be interrelated with the important tasks fulfilled by Turkmenistan in the modern period, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov ordered to revise the programme.

The Turkmen leader underscored the particular significance of the international forums and festivals on the history and culture of the Turkmen people. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan had accumulated the profound and quite fruitful experience in this field in recent years that certainly promote further study and popularization of the rich spiritual heritage of the nation all over the world.

Reporting on the progress of agricultural work Vice Premier M. Akmammedov informed that the harvest campaign was in full swing throughout the country.

Commenting on the report President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the importance of a coordinated and responsible approach to the harvest campaign including the effective use of agricultural equipment and machines. The Turkmen leader focused on the need to keep strict control of the relevant issues including creation of the conditions conducive to the effective functioning of the grain conveyor and implementation of land improvement activities and other agricultural work. The President emphasized on the significance of the ongoing agricultural reform and demanded that the relevant high-ranking officials pay attention to fulfilling the plans in the agro-industry sector.

Vice Premier N. Shagulyev reported on the progress in implementing the projects in the transport, communications and telecommunications sectors. In particular, the Vice Premier reported on the measures taken to buy a mobile television unit that would record and transfer programmes about activities taking place in the country.

Emphasizing that the Government provided profound support to the national television President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the substantial funds were allocated to develop and improve broadcasting activities in the country through purchasing state-of-the-art equipment and apparatuses. In this regard the Turkmen leader demanded that the relevant high-ranking officials take all necessary measures to ensure the high quality of broadcasting activities in the country.

Vice Premier H. Saparlyev reported on the measures taken to improve the work of specialized secondary and vocational schools in the country on training highly qualified specialists for various sectors of the national economy.

Commenting on the report the President focused on the need to develop the efficient professional framework to promote vocational education and improve personnel training management to meet the growing needs of the national economy and change in demand on labour market. The Turkmen leader said that particular attention should be paid to promote vocational education and youth professional orientation.

During the meeting President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed the important documents.

Upon concluding the meeting the Vice Premiers and the Chairperson of the Mejlis heartily congratulated President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the coming holiday – the Day of Workers of Culture and Art. It was noted that in the epoch of new Revival the national culture and art that maintained the rich constructive traditions of the Turkmen people in a worthy manner was flourished. Through the unceasing concern of the leader of the Turkmen state the conditions conducive to fruitful activity of cultural workers and artists had been created in the country. An interest in the national Turkmen culture and art steadily grew abroad that was vividly illustrated by the success of the cultural actions conducted by Turkmenistan on a regular basis in different countries of the world. Art festivals and forums bringing together thousands of guests on the hospitable Turkmen land from different regions of the world had become more frequent.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the Government would continue to provide substantial support to the national culture and art, strengthen the material and technical basis of this important sphere, enhance the creative potential of the nation and encourage young talents.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the national culture and art deeply rooted in ancient times. The immortal masterpieces created by our glorious ancestors had a worthy place in the treasury of the spiritual and cultural values of the humanity. It is difficult to overestimate the role of the national culture and art in the progress of contemporary society. The President said that the solemn mission and sacred duty of cultural workers was to promote and elucidate the essence and content, the major goals of fundamental reforms launched in Turkmenistan in the epoch of new Revival.

In this regard the President said that the Government would continue to create the conditions conducive to fruitful and free work of cultural workers and artists in the country.

Cordially congratulating those present on the coming holiday, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished good health, happiness and family wellbeing to those present and the people of Turkmenistan and inspiration and every success in creating new highly artistic, thoughtful works glorifying the independent neutral Motherland and promoting Turkmen culture all over the world.

In conclusion the President warmly congratulated those present and the people of Turkmenistan on the coming holiday and wished wellbeing and new outstanding accomplishments to Turkmen workers of culture and art.