ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkmenistan have decided to improve connectivity by establishing communication corridors that would be conducive to tapping the potential of trade, economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts and tourism between the two countries.
“Given the special geo-economic and geo-political significance of both countries, Pakistan and Turkmenistan decided to pay special attention to establishing air, road and rail links on a priority basis,” said a joint communiqué of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov issued on Thursday. Berdimuhamedov’s two-day official visit to Pakistan concluded on Thursday. Ministers, senior officials and leading businessmen of his country accompanied the Turkmenistan president to Islamabad.
During the visit, the Turkmen president had a meeting with President Mamnoon Hussain and held talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. During their meeting, the president and the prime minister underlined the significance of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and expressed satisfaction with the foundation of the project that was laid in December last year. The prime minister appreciated the initiative by the president of Turkmenistan for implementation of this important project and agreed to take measures for early completion of this important regional energy project.
The two countries agreed to enhance bilateral economic and trade relations. Both sides realised that the volume of trade did not match the goodwill that existed between the two countries. They agreed to take appropriate measures to enhance bilateral trade. The leaders welcomed the initiative of the Pakistan-Turkmenistan Business Forum on the sidelines of the visit. Both sides agreed that such sector-based interactions between businessmen of the two countries should be a regular feature to facilitate bilateral trade and investment. The leaders noted that Pakistan and Turkmenistan enjoyed cordial relations, which were characterised by bonds of historical, cultural and religious affinity and mutual respect. “These are rooted deep in the hearts of the people. Both sides attach great importance to the friendship between their people and the need to further strengthen their cooperation,” said the communiqué.
The leaders recognised the importance of high-level bilateral political interaction that provides impetus to all areas of bilateral relations. The two sides exchanged views on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. The leaders noted with satisfaction that significant progress was made in recent years on bilateral relations and high-level exchanges between the two countries. The two sides emphasised the importance of timely meetings on established bilateral mechanisms for enhancing cooperation in agreed sectors. They reaffirmed their commitment to sustain the momentum of upward trajectory of bilateral ties.
Pakistan and Turkmenistan agreed to enhance cooperation on international and regional issues of common interest, and continue coordination within international and regional mechanisms such as the UN, NAM, G-77, ECO and OIC. The two leaders expressed their resolve to work together for regional peace, development and prosperity.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appreciated the visionary leadership and sagacity of President Berdimuhamedov that brought prosperity and socio-economic development to Turkmenistan. He congratulated Turkmenistan on the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Declaration of Neutrality and reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support to this initiative, which contributed to peace and stability in the region. The two sides agreed that bilateral cooperation in all sectors had great potential. They agreed to create conducive conditions and initiate projects for the promotion of infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, multimedia technology, banking, environment and energy sectors.
Turkmenistan is endowed with huge hydrocarbon resources, which can provide energy to Pakistan to meet its needs. Pakistan also supports Turkmenistan’s initiative to establish trans-regional energy corridors, it added.
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