ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Turkmenistan Tuesday agreed to make efforts to further strengthen economic relations.
Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov visited Islamabad on January 15-16 on the invitation of Foreign Minister Khawaja M Asif to discuss the bilateral cooperation, said a foreign ministry statement.
The Turkmen foreign minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Minister of Energy, State Minister and Chairman of TurkmenGas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline Company Limited as well as experts and senior officials from other sectors. The ministers led their respective sides to the inaugural session of Pakistan-Turkmenistan Bilateral Political Consultations. “Both the ministers expressed satisfaction on the current level of bilateral relations between the two countries. They agreed that both sides need to make efforts to further enhance economic relations through joint ventures in agriculture, textile, livestock and Information Technology sector,” said the statement. “The two countries are also focused on measures for enhanced connectivity including air and land linkages to promote trade, travel, tourism and people-to-people contacts.”
The ministers acknowledged the importance of early implementation of the TAPI Gas Pipeline Project. Both sides also reviewed the implementation of decisions of the Joint Governmental Commission held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on August 17-18, 2017. Minister Meredov later paid courtesy calls on President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. He conveyed the greetings of the leadership of Turkmenistan to the president and the prime minister.
The Turkmen Foreign Minister also handed over an invitation from the President of Turkmenistan to the President of Pakistan for the link-up ceremony of TAPI being planned this year. “Pakistan and Turkmenistan enjoy close, cordial relations marked by trust and understanding. These ties are characterized by mutual respect, shared perceptions and common desire to promote peace, stability and development in the region.”
The two countries also cooperate closely in the regional and multilateral for a,” said the foreign ministry statement.