MOSCOW, June 10. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit Turkmenistan, made by that country’s leader Serdar Berdymukhamedov at a meeting in the Kremlin on Friday.

"Thank you, I will certainly use this opportunity," Putin said in reply.

At the end of the part of negotiations open to the media Berdymukhamedov said that Ashgabat attached great importance to cooperation with Moscow.

"I would like to use this occasion to invite you to pay an official visit to Turkmenistan at any convenient moment," he added. Berdymukhamedov thanked Putin for the warm reception and hospitality.

On March 15, Turkmenistan’s Central Election Commission said Serdar Berdimuhamedov had won the early presidential election, held on March 12, collecting 72.97% of the votes. Previously, the country was led by his father, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

This visit to Russia is President Serdar Berdymukhamedov’s first official trip abroad since taking office.