SOCHI, November 1. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov have discussed key issues of bilateral cooperation.
In particular, the Turkmen leader marked a good balance of import and export in Russia-Turkmenistan trade.
"If we proceed from what is going on the world, from the economic situation, in general we will see a decline on some indicators but in recent years we managed to hold a good balance of import and export," he said.
Berdimuhamedov also proposed a number of ideas for cooperation development.
He invited the Russian leader to take part in the global transport conference that will be held in Turkmenistan under the auspices of the UN on November 26-27.
"Russia’s presence at that conference would give it a bigger impetus to the development of transport transit corridors not only in Central Asia but in south-eastern direction in general," he said.
Berdimuhamedov reminded the Russian leader about such plans as formation of an economic forum or creation of a logistic center.
"You pay a particular attention to the development of transport and transit corridors," the Turkmen President told Putin.
He added that agriculture is another possible area for bilateral cooperation.
"In the last five years, we provide a good harvest is not only to our country, our people, but we even became exporters," he said.
"I would like to use this opportunity to suggest that we may scientific and technological forum in Ashgabat," he added.
The Russian President thanked his counterpart for all the proposals and promised to study them.
"We will work through all this. I think that the implementation of these ideas will be beneficial for our relations," Putin said, noting that the mentioned areas are important not only for Turkmenistan, but also for Russia.
Putin marked the role of the President of Turkmenistan in the development of bilateral relations and reiterated that the relations between the two countries will develop further.
Berdymukhammedov thanked the Russian leader for supporting his country’s neutrality.
"Relations between our countries have been enhanced by new ties on the bilateral level as well as interaction within reputable international organizations," Berdymukhammedov stated at a meeting with Russia’s President. "We are a neutral country and we are grateful to you not only for having provided support to us twice but also for helping to set Turkmenistan’s neutrality," he said.
According to Berdymukhammedov, as a neutral country, Turkmenistan pursues a foreign policy based on the UN Charter. "We are a peace-loving country, and we have been closely cooperating with you in this regard. Without a doubt, we will carry on with this course," the Turkmen leader said.
Berdymukhammedov stressed that Russia was Turkmenistan’s strategic partner. "The Russian Federation, the great Russia has invariably been, is and will always be our strategic partner, we very much value our relations," he said wishing the president and the people of Russia success.