OREANDA-NEWS. The ceremony of launching the construction of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railway took place in Lebap Velayat. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, who had arrived in our country for a working visit, attended the festivities which marked the start of construction of a new steel route, serving as a key element of regional and in the future – international transport infrastructure.

The Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railway was signed in Ashgabat on March 20, following the trilateral summit. Two and a half months after that, the project of the new railway corridor, which will vividly symbolize truly good neighbourly relations between the three states and nations, was launched in Turkmenistan. Putting into operation the new railway will certainly facilitate the implementation of the transit and transport potential of the three states and their integration into the system of international economic relations. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov arrived in Turkmenabat, the administrative centre of Lebap Velayat on June 5. The Vice Premiers, the heads of military and law enforcement agencies, the Lebap Velayat Khyakim, the elders and mullahs greeted the Turkmen leader at the airport.

Then the airliner with President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon on board landed at the airport in Turkmenabat. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov cordially greeted his Tajik counterpart at the airport.

Then the airliner with President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai on board landed at the airport in Turkmenabat. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov cordially greeted the distinguished Afghan guest at the airport.

Then the leaders of Turkmenistan, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan had a meeting. Focusing on the importance of the event marking the start of construction of a new steel route which would link the three neighbouring states, the leaders of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan noted that the implementation of this ambitious project would give new incentive to expand the regional transport network and build up effective trade economic cooperation in the region as well as the Eurasian continent.

The helicopters took the leaders of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan from the airport in Turkmenabat to Atamyrat town, where the ceremony would be held. The leaders of Turkmenistan, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan signed a message to the descendants, put it into a capsule and poured the first shovels of concrete, thus giving a kick-start to the construction of the new railway.