The presidents of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan spoke in favor of diversifying cooperation

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani who arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the opening ceremony of the 5th Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts. 

The leaders of the two countries warmly greeting each other photographed against the background of the national flags of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. 

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov thanked his Afghan counterpart for the invitation to visit Turkmenistan and take part in the celebrations on the start of the Asian Games-2017. 

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan attaches special importance to developing a fruitful dialogue with neighboring countries, including Afghanistan. 

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani thanking President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the invitation to visit Turkmenistan and kind reception and hospitality accorded addressed the best wishes to the Turkmen leader and people of the country. 

The leaders of the two states interchanged the views on topical issues of Turkmen-Afghan cooperation during the meeting. As it was stated, important agreements on the way to strengthening and building up, interstate relations in various fields were important agreements reached on the results of the official visit of the President of Afghanistan to Turkmenistan in July this year. 

The interlocutors called for diversification of mutual trade, including the activating of business relations through business structures focusing on the issues of partnership in the trade and economic sphere. 

The head of the IRA noted that the large-scale projects of the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and the Asian International Railway Corridor initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will be an invaluable contribution to the peaceful settlement of the situation in Afghanistan and the sustainable social and economic development of the entire Central Asian region. 

In Afghanistan, as well as all over the world, they highly appreciate and fully support the peaceful policy pursued by the Turkmen leader, as well as the international initiatives put forward by him, aimed at strengthening the foundations of stability and general prosperity in the region in every possible way, emphasized Mohammad Ashraf Ghani. 

The Afghan people highly appreciate support and sincerely rejoice at the successes of the fraternal Turkmen people, the high guest noted, expressing confidence that the traditional interstate cooperation will continue to develop steadily, filling with new content. 

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov thanking for kind words, reaffirmed Turkmenistan's commitment to the traditionally friendly, constructive dialogue with Afghanistan and its readiness to continue to render all possible assistance in the economic and cultural revival of the neighboring country. The Turkmen people are sincerely in solidarity with the Afghan people in their quest for a peaceful and stable life, the head of state said. 

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov touching upon the theme of opening the Asian games-2017 noted that Turkmenistan was preparing for these Games as a great sporting event and an event of immense public and political significance designed to strengthen the relations of friendship and brotherhood, mutual understanding and cooperation between the countries and peoples of the Asian region. 

The head of Afghanistan, in his turn, expressed confidence in the success of major international sports events taking place in the Turkmen capital.