Azerbaijani, Turkmen leaders stress transport, energy security as key global priorities PHOTO/UPDATED

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said transport and energy security are among the key issues on the global agenda during talks in an expanded meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Baku on June 22.

President Aliyev expressed gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for his visit, stating that he attaches great importance to it and is confident it will serve to strengthen friendly and brotherly relations between the two countries. He noted that the agenda of cooperation covers all areas of mutual interest, that discussions on a wide range of issues had already taken place, and that talks would continue with the participation of delegations, Caliber.Az reports via state media. 

He also emphasised that the President of Turkmenistan is visiting Azerbaijan with a large delegation and expressed confidence that members of the Turkmen delegation would hold productive meetings with their Azerbaijani counterparts. President Aliyev underlined the importance of documents to be signed between the two countries, describing them as an indicator of the wide scope of bilateral relations.

The Azerbaijani president also thanked Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Turkmenistan for the decision to gift a mosque to the city of Fuzuli. He recalled that the initiative had been put forward during Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s visit to Azerbaijan last year, and that the foundation of the mosque was laid within the framework of the Summit of the Organization of Turkic States held in Gabala. He described the gesture as another manifestation of sincere brotherly relations between the two countries.

President Aliyev also expressed gratitude for the hospitality shown to Azerbaijani creative teams during the Days of Azerbaijani Culture in Turkmenistan, noting that the Days of Turkmen Culture were held in Azerbaijan last year. He stressed that such dynamic cooperation in the humanitarian sphere is natural, as the two peoples are united by a common history, which also serves as an important factor in mutual cooperation.

He further reiterated that transport and energy security are among the key issues on the global agenda, adding that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan play an important role both individually and through joint initiatives, and that this role will continue to grow. He said that the positive development of geopolitical processes across the vast Eurasian continent will largely depend on close cooperation in these areas.

Speaking at the meeting, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude for the warm welcome, hospitality, and the invitation to pay a state visit to Azerbaijan.

He emphasised that close ties have been established between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in political, diplomatic, trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian, and other spheres, and that high-level contacts and mutual visits play an important role in the successful development of bilateral relations.

He recalled the visits of the National Leader of the Turkmen people to Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Turkmenistan last year, noting that these meetings set new directions for political dialogue, economic partnership, and humanitarian cooperation.

Serdar Berdimuhamedov highlighted the importance of cooperation in the international arena, including within the framework of the UN, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Organization of Turkic States, and the CIS.

He expressed high appreciation for Azerbaijan’s support for Turkmenistan’s neutral foreign policy course and its international initiatives aimed at peace and sustainable development, adding that Turkmenistan, in turn, supports Azerbaijan’s internationally significant initiatives and that this tradition will continue.

On Caspian Sea cooperation, he stressed that joint activity in security, economy, ecology, and environmental protection is of vital importance for both countries. He stated that Turkmenistan has put forward an initiative to hold a high-level meeting on Caspian Sea issues and also seeks Azerbaijan’s support in promoting the Caspian environmental initiative.

The Turkmen president noted that trade and economic cooperation is a key area of bilateral relations and highly appreciated the positive dynamics in trade turnover. He emphasized the need to strengthen the work of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation to better realize existing potential.

He also described transport and transit as a strategic direction of cooperation, stating that the geographical positions of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan provide significant advantages for the development of international transport corridors. He proposed further strengthening the Turkmen-Azerbaijani Commission on Transport, Transit and Logistics.

He hailed the Afghanistan–Turkmenistan–Azerbaijan–Georgia–Türkiye transport corridor as a successful example of cooperation and also supported the initiative to establish the Caspian Sea–Black Sea transport corridor along the Turkmenistan–Azerbaijan–Georgia–Romania route, saying it would expand economic, trade, and investment opportunities across the region.

Berdimuhamedov further noted significant opportunities for cooperation in the oil and gas sector, chemical industry, textile industry, and other fields. He stressed that collaboration continues in education, science, culture, and the arts, highlighting that regular Culture Days, festivals, and exhibitions contribute to strengthening friendship between the two peoples.

He also referred to the ongoing construction of a mosque in Fuzuli as a symbol of friendship and brotherhood between the two countries.

The Turkmen president concluded by expressing confidence that the visit would mark an important milestone in strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation, and wished President Ilham Aliyev success in his work, as well as peace, progress, and prosperity for the people of Azerbaijan.

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Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev held an expanded meeting with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on June 22, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.