ASHGABAT, July 11 (Itar-Tass) —— Turkmenistani President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov and St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko have signed an agreement on economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation.
The document is a result of Monday’s talks of the governmental delegation. Matviyenko arrived in Ashgabat late on Sunday to pay a three-day visit.
“St. Petersburg is a reliable and promising partner of Turkmenistan,” Berdymukhammedov said during a briefing devoted to the signing of the document. “We highly assess the relations of the kind, which meets the priorities of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy, including development of partner relations with Russia and stepping up of direct contracts with its regions,” the leader of the republic said.
“With this in mind, the actively and dynamically developing cooperation between Turkmenistan and St. Petersburg is of huge importance,” the president said.
“We are interested in the development of commercial contacts,” Berdymukhammedov said, adding, “We have big potential for the implementation of innovative technologies in industry, where we are carrying out diversification.”
“Besides, we have colossal potential in the agricultural projects and in the processing industries,” he said.
Touching upon priorities of the economic cooperation with St. Petersburg, Berdymukhammedov mentioned such spheres as energy sector, communications, construction industry, trade, innovation technologies, science and education.
“Over the past years, St. Petersburg’s relations with Turkmenistan gained the status of trustworthy partnership,” Matviyenko said.
“The two years, which have lasted since the Turkmenistani president’s visit to St. Petersburg in 2009, were very fruitful, which may be confirmed through the opening of a large infrastructure facility [flyovers along the Turkmenbashi-Avaza highway],” the governor said, adding that the relevant start-up ceremony is slated for Tuesday.
“Moreover, the two sides have got well-developed and intensive contacts,” she said, adding, “We did much to work out new proposals in the sphere of ‘concerned’ partnership.”
While pointing to the Turkmenistani president’s contribution into the development of friendly and partner relations, the governor bestowed Berdymukhammedov with the city’s highest award.
While thanking for the award, the president, in turn pointed to Matviyenko’s personal big contribution in the development of Russian-Turkmenistani relations.