Astana and Ashgabat to contribute to regional security strengthening – Kazakh FM Murat Nurtleu
Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu paid his first official visit to Turkmenistan, Kazinform News Agency reports.
During the visit he held talks with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov in a closed-door and extended formats.
He said that Turkmenistan has been an important strategic partner for Kazakhstanm, close neighbor and fraternal country.
He noted that both countries enjoy centuries-long ties of friendship, traditions of good-neighborly relations and common historic roots.
“This year we mark the 31st year since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. In more than a quarter of a century we have reached significant progress in all areas. We have formed a solid regulatory-legal framework and fully completed formalizing our land and maritime borders,” the Kazakh Minister said during the extended meeting.
In his words, the 2022-2024 Comprehensive Plan of Bilateral Cooperation signed by the countries last year is being gradually implemented. He also positively assessed the work of Kazakh-Turkmen intergovernmental commission for economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation.
According to him, mutual trade growth, development of transport and transit cooperation, revival of business ties are important results of the joint work.
“In 2022, commodity turnover between our countries increased by 72% and reached almost 440 million US dollars. Positive dynamics is observed this year as well. The volume of mutual trade in 8 months of 2023 has risen by 34%. Transit and transport cooperation traditionally remains the driver of our interaction,” Murat Nurtleu said emphasizing the importance of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railroad line.
He reminded of the establishment of a working group for transport, transit and logistics development in 2022 for further expansion of cooperation.
“Energy sector also has huge potential, with Turkmen gas regularly delivered to China through the territory of Kazakhstan,” he noted.
He also mentioned successful experience of interaction on supply of natural gas from Turkmenistan to the domestic market of Kazakhstan.
“The high level of bilateral cooperation is also observed in a close interaction of our states at the international arena, which is proved by mutual support within multilateral structures. Astana and Ashgabat greatly contribute to strengthening the regional stability,” he said.
In turn, Rashid Meredov said that Turkmenistan views this visit as a good opportunity to further expand and strengthen the bilateral ties, pointing out high paces of the bilateral ties.
Following the talks, Murat Nurtleu and Rashid Meredov signed a 2024-2026 cooperation program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
As part of his visit, Murat Nurtleu participated in the ceremony of laying flowers to the Independence Monument of Turkmenistan.
