Upon the completion of the bilateral documents signing ceremony, the Leaders of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan made statement to the representatives of mass media.

Commenting on the outcomes of the high-level meeting in Ashgabat, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the talks, during which aspects of bilateral cooperation as well as wide range of issues of regional and international politics have been discusses, went in the atmosphere of understanding and trsut.

It was mentioned that the visions of current issues of the world politics either similar of close. In the world arena, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan are the supporters of the principles of equal rights, justice, non-interference into internal affairs of sovereign states. The cooperation under the United Nations Organization as well as under the Islamic Cooperation Organization and the Economic Cooperation Organization will be continued.

Turkmenistan and Afghanistan are the supporters of the formation of solid foundation of peace and security in the region. The sides confirmed the willingness to cooperation for turning of Central Asia into the zone of stability and sustainable development. It was highlighted in this regard, that implementation of the UN Global Counterterrorist Strategy and other documents on combating against the terrorism on the world and regional levels including the Ashgabat Declaration from 2011 is one of key directions of joint activity.

Speaking of the solution of Afghan problems, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that political stability could be achieved only by peaceful methods and by negotiations. Being a neutral state, Turkmenistan repeatedly said about the willingness to create all necessary conditions for organization of direct talks between the Government of Turkmenistan and all interested parties. This position of Turkmenistan was confirmed at current meeting.

Involvement of Afghanistan to major international and regional projects in economic sphere is an important condition for the achievement of peace and solidarity in this country. Following its commitment, Turkmenistan proposed numerous important projects with the participation of Afghanistan in energy, transport and communication sphere.

It includes the construction of Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India gas pipeline. The orientation of this project to social targets is its important component. In addition, the transit of gas across the territory of the country would provide annual income of more than 1 billion US dollars to the budget of Afghanistan.

It was mentioned that fruitful cooperation is also in electrical energy sphere, more than 20 years, Turkmen power is supplied to the northern and western provinces of Afghanistan. Turkmen specialists built more than 400 kilometres of power lines on the territory of neighbouring country for these years.

Participation of two countries in the project of construction of multimodal transport corridor Lapis Lazuli has also been highlighted. The willingness to continue regular meetings with transport ministers of participating countries has been confirmed for the discussion of the issues related to the implementation of the project.

Mutual intent to improve trade and economic relations has been expressed during the talks. Relative assignments have been given to the heads of profile departments of both countries in this regard.

Turkmenistan would continue rendering humanitarian support to Afghan people, build social facilities in this country, Turkmen leader has said thereafter.

Cooperation in educational spheres is also successfully developed with Afghanistan. According to the request of Afghan side, Turkmenistan would continue rendering support in this direction, the Head of the State noted. Bilateral relations in cultural and scientific spheres will also be activated.

This meeting has proven stable character of the relations based on the principles of goodwill, fraternity, mutual respect and equal rights, - President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said in the end and wished peace and prosperity to Afghan nation.

The state news agency of Turkmenistan 

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended the opening ceremony of the Kiyanly Polymer Plant whose commissioning created approximately 1000 jobs, and then launched the autumn tree planting campaign by planting the first tree beside the territory of the new gas chemical complex.

The attendees joined the head of state’s initiative. Representatives of nearly every branch of the national economy, diplomats accredited to Turkmenistan and foreign guests took part in the tree planting campaign.

Careful attitude towards mother nature is the highest priority of Turkmenistan’s state policy. Green arteries of forests stretch along highways and railways, while green oases emerge around the dynamically developing industrial infrastructure, the rapidly growing towns and new settlements. Millions of trees were planted on the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains that lie side by side with the white marble-cladded city of Ashgabat.

Particular attention is devoted to the emerald attire of Avaza National Tourist Zone. This investment project of major socio-economic importance, unprecedented in scale, has become an innovative model of integrated development of the regions. Kick-starting the rapid development of the tourist industry, the Avaza Project embraced several factors that influence Turkmenistan’s prosperity: the integrated use of the richest natural resources; recreational opportunities; the country’s advantageous location in terms of transit and transport and the ensuing diversification of the national economy.

Currently, according to the domestic specialists’ estimation and reputable international experts’ opinion, the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea is considered to be the most environmentally sustainable due to the focused works in this area. Environmentally friendly advanced technologies provide a framework for the urban development, the oil and gas sector, the chemical industry, the electric power industry and the agriculture. They also serve as essential criteria of the socio-economic programs, major international and regional projects deployed in the country.

The Turkmenbashi Complex of Oil Refineries, the flagship plant of the domestic petrochemical industry, is a concrete example of that. It is being modernized and technically re-equipped with the use of cutting-edge technology and technical solutions that help prevent technogenic damage to the environment.

The project for the construction of the International Sea Port in the city of Turkmenbashi, which was commissioned this May, was designed in accordance with the Green port international standard. To preserve the environment of the Caspian Sea, every terminal was provided with the bio-purifying equipment. It is remarkable that the soil extracted at the construction of the port was used to create an artificial island with the total area of 170 hectares in the gulf waters. It became a living, nesting and wintering ground for flamingoes, swans, geese, ducks, herons, pelicans and other birds.

Innovative technology is used in production of mineral fertilizers at the Garabogazkarbamid plant that became a valuable addition to the infrastructure of the country’s chemical industry in September. The environmental safety of this enterprise was confirmed by certificates from the reputable international organizations.

The new stage in implementing the National Forest Program was marked with the Resolution by the head of state, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, under which 3 million trees will be planted during the 2018 tree planting campaign. 1.5 million will be planted on the land between the districts of Ak Bugday and Baherden (Ahal province), and the same number of leafy, coniferous, fruit trees and vines will be planted on the outskirts of administrative centers of the provinces and in the cities. More than 445 thousand trees were planted in the country’s forest parks this spring.

The state news agency of Turkmenistan

From September 29 to October 2, 2018, the Government delegation headed by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will pay a working visit to New York, United States of America to participate in the 73^rd session of the UN General Assembly which will be held in the UN Headquarters.  

It is expected that, the President will have high-level meetings in accordance with the program of the visit. Moreover, according to the instructions of the Head of State, Turkmen-American business council format meetings will be organized.      

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will voice our country’s priority areas in further cooperation with the UN in the upcoming global forum that will be organized within the framework of UN General Assembly.   Steadily implementing the strategy of extensive international cooperation, neutral Turkmenistan attaches significant attention to strategic partnership with the UN.    Neutral Turkmenistan gets actively involved in common efforts in developing mutually agreed solutions to currently existing key issues and considers the 73^rd session of the UN General Assembly as an important step to further consolidate international efforts in addressing key issues of global agenda. Turkmenistan is strongly and permanently committed to cooperation in the field of security for further disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Our country is for enhancing international system to counter terrorism in which the UN is a major coordinating center. The efforts of Turkmenistan are aimed at working jointly to seek effective mechanism to coordinate activities in combating drugs and their precursors trafficking.   

Turkmenistan actively works on implementing Sustainable Development Goals which were adopted at the UN Summit in September, 2015, in New York. More particularly, Turkmenistan is among pioneers that adopted officially all 17 SDGs, 148 targets and 194 indicators.    

Turkmenistan puts forward concrete initiatives in sustainable transport development, energy and climate change, as well as advocates considering and addressing water and environment issues in Central Asia on the basis of universally acknowledged norms of international law, taking into account interests of all countries of the region and with the participation of international organizations.

In the present world political, economic and social processes the youth becomes strategic resource determining not only state development but also entire international relations in the long-term perspective.   

Therefore, in the context of achieving Sustainable Development Goals, Turkmenistan puts forward the initiative to establish Global partnership for protecting youth’s interests.      

The foregoing priority positions, the consistent implementation of initiatives and proposals that were put forward at various international forums, will be crucial in developing Turkmenistan’s approaches to promote cooperation with all member states of the Organization, UN bodies, its agencies and specialized institutions during the 73^rd session of the General Assembly. 

Turkmenistan welcomes close international cooperation in solving actual problems of our time, expresses a firm readiness to work together for the sake of affirming the high ideals of peace and justice, realizing the goals and tasks facing the United Nations Organisation.