Under sign of friendship and cooperation

Obviously, this recognition is based on President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov’s policy – the realistic policy of openness and wide international cooperation meeting modern realities and providing a platform for initiating the large-scale reforms to promote growth of the national economy, science, education, culture and increase in people’s welfare that arouses confidence among global political, business and financial circles worldwide.

Turkmenistan builds its relations with other states, large international organisations, firms and companies on confidence and impeccable reputation, mutual interest and respect, readiness for practical cooperation enhanced by constructive initiatives and proposals, mutually advantageous projects. For partnership without mutual confidence has neither perspective nor future.

This statement was proved by the last week which was marked with the important and significant steps to implement the Turkmen leader’s foreign policy strategy. The major events include the 34th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Islamic Development Bank in Ashgabat. It should be noted that this year’s summit with the agenda focused on the current issues of international cooperation, mitigation of the consequences of global financial and economic crisis was the largest over history of this authoritative financial organisation. It brought together the representative delegations from 56 states from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

Providing the platform for holding a series of the symposia and seminars the forum was concluded with signing the Memorandum on Establishment of the Joint Infrastructure Fund to finance investment projects in twelve Asian countries and spotlighted foreign partners’ intense interest in the very promising Turkmen market for its rich resources potential and favorable investment climate. Thus, after visiting Turkmenbashi town where the presentation of Turkmenistan’s investment potential was made for the guests the foreign businessmen showed active interest in collaborating in the project on creation of the Avaza national tourism zone on the Caspian Sea coast.

The most important outcome of the summit is the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Development Bank. In accordance with the document the IDB will be engaged in implementing the large-scale international project initiated by Turkmenistan – construction of the North-South transport and communications corridor, in particular the Bereket-Etrek-Gorgan section of the railway, which will connect the transport networks of Europe and Asia.

Shortly before the forum Turkmenistan concluded the credit agreement with the IDB for purchase of two large-capacity river-sea oil tankers. In accordance with the Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan the contract for construction of the tankers with the capacity of 7,000 tons will be concluded with the Russian Joint Stock Company Zavod Krasnoye Sormovo. In addition, the Islamic Bank will provide the grant for the Research in the Potential of Production of Silicon Solar Photoelectric Converter Project developed by specialists of the Gun Research-and-Production Association of the Supreme Council for Science and Technology under President of Turkmenistan. This project is aimed at developing the so-called alternative power industry that uses the renewable energy sources, the solar energy in particular.

Intensification of cooperation was the focus of the meeting of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov with Victor Zubkov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. The important decisions that underlay the programme of collaboration of our country with the European partners in the fuel and energy sector as well were adopted during the meeting of the Turkmenistan-European Union, which was held in Brussels on June 3-4. The Agreement in principle on provision of the loan of US$ 3 billion for industrial development of Southern Yoloten gas deposit was reached during the talks held by the Turkmen delegation in Beijing.

In a word, the dynamics, renovation, partnership have become the distinctive features of the national economy that are secured by the Turkmen leader’s foreign policy initiatives and the social security system, establishment of which the President regards as his ultimate goal. This system provides for a wide range of benefits granted to citizens of the country – free gas, electric power, water, petrol, creation of social and economic infrastructure in the capital and regions, an access of citizens to high-quality education, health care and many other aspects.

So, last week the Altyn Damja children’s health-improving centre was put into operation in Geokdere – the picturesque resort near Ashgabat. It is the seventh complex where young citizens of Turkmenistan will promote their health and recreate during the summer holidays. The presentation of the project of the Eye Diseases Centre – the ophthalmologic clinic supplied with state-of-the-art equipment with the laboratories where highly qualified specialists will conduct research aimed at solving urgent problems of modern ophthalmology and working out new methods of treatment and diagnostics of eye diseases, was made at S. Karanov Eye Diseases Research and Clinical Centre.

Such an aspect of the national social and economic policy as environmental protection is always in focus of attention of the Turkmen leader. In his welcoming statement to participants of the scientific and practical conference dedicated to World Environment Day, which is traditionally celebrated on June 5, the President said “Turkmen nature with its hot sun, amazing diversity, wonderful natural monuments, rich plant and animal life is very beautiful. Our ancestors treated carefully these treasures, over millennia they developed the unwritten laws and methods to use efficiently natural resources, which are adhered to nowadays. For the harmony in relationships of the Turkmen people with nature in the past we are proud of its diversity in the present.”

Indeed, the really inexhaustible depths of Turkmenistan hide the huge reserves of economic welfare. Though, the Turkmen leader thinks that for the self-respecting country to rely solely on gas and oil dollars is unforgivable dissipation. During the recent government meeting focused on the prospects for development of Turkmenistan’s fuel and energy sector Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the present generations of the Turkmen people must see to it that the sufficient reserves of oil and gas would be left for the future generations. In this regard the President focused on the need to work out a flexible approach to employing the resource potential of the basic sector of the national economy through balancing the tasks to increase energy production, processing and export with efficient use f natural wealth of the Turkmen land.

Turkmenistan is rich in not only raw materials but also sincere, friendly, honest and diligent people. Turkmen textiles successfully conquer world markets. During the years of independence dozens of new factories and industrial complexes equipped with advanced technologies with the complete production cycle – from processing of cotton fibre to manufacture of a wide range of jeans, terry, jersey, satin, calico fabrics and finished products that compete with the products of the world’s leading manufacturers have been built throughout the country.

The International Exhibition timed to Turkmen Textile Worker Day in Ashgabat vividly showcased the impressive achievements of the young and dynamically developing industry. Dozens of the companies and firms from different countries including Korea, Turkey, Germany, Russia, Italy, the United States and Switzerland took part in the forum of the achievements of Turkmen textile workers, for whom this forum was a unique opportunity to learn about latest textile technologies and innovations.

Having initiated the large-scale progressive reforms President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attaches particular importance to expanding international cultural contacts that allow discovering new prospects and opportunities to study of the rich spiritual heritage of the Turkmen people and establish multi-aspect humanitarian cooperation. Last spring the large delegation of the Turkmen cultural workers participated in the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in Kazakhstan and last week the people of Turkmenistan welcomed their Kazakh friends.

The representative delegation led by the Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the cultural forum, which will close on June 9. The Kazakh cultural delegation consists of the folk popular singers, famous musicians, renowned opera and ballet artists, cinematographers and journalists. Undoubtedly, this wonderful art festival will promote cultural cooperation between two countries and friendship between two peoples.