BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 1. The foreign ministers
of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan discussed expanding cooperation in
transport, energy, and industry during talks in Ashgabat.
This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Turkmenistan following a meeting between Foreign Minister Rashid
Meredov and Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Yermek Kosherbayev, who is on an official visit to
Turkmenistan.
“The sides highlighted the importance of intensifying
cooperation in transport and logistics, energy and industry, while
noting the coordinating role of the Joint Intergovernmental
Commission in diversifying bilateral trade and stimulating
investment activity,” the ministry said.
According to the ministry, the ministers also reviewed the
implementation of agreements reached previously at the highest
level and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the
strategic partnership between the two countries.
The talks also focused on expanding political dialogue,
maintaining regular consultations between the two foreign
ministries, and coordinating positions within the UN and other
international organizations, the report says.
The ministers additionally discussed preparations for major
international events that Turkmenistan will host later this year,
the press release noted.
According to the ministry, the two sides concluded the meeting
by reaffirming their commitment to further expanding bilateral
cooperation across political, economic, and humanitarian
fields.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan maintain a strategic
partnership centered on trade, transport connectivity, and energy
cooperation. Bilateral trade has grown more than fourfold over the
past five years, and has consistently exceeded $500 million
annually, while the two countries have set a target of increasing
trade turnover to $1 billion. Particular attention is being paid to
the development of transit corridors linking Central Asia with the
Caspian region and beyond, including cooperation on rail, road, and
logistics infrastructure, as well as joint efforts to strengthen
regional connectivity and cross-border commerce.
Earlier in June, Astana hosted the 14th meeting of the
Kazakh-Turkmen Intergovernmental Commission on Economic,
Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation. The event was
chaired by Galymzhan Koyshybayev, Deputy Prime Minister and Chief
of Staff of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and
Nokerguly Atagulyev, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of
Turkmenistan.
