President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Hugo Chavez, who had arrived on the official visit to the Turkmen capital, had the top level talks in Ashgabat yesterday.

In the morning the Venezuelan President’s cortege headed for the historical centre of Ashgabat, to the Cabinet of Ministers building where President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov cordially greeted his counterpart.

Upon concluding the official greeting ceremony the leaders of the two countries entered the building and had the photograph taken against the background of the national flags of Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Then Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited the honorary guest to enter the Fireplace Hall where they had the one on one talks.

Heartily greeting the honorary guest Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov thanked Hugo Chavez for paying the visit to Ashgabat and expressed belief that this meeting would initiated successful bilateral cooperation and become an important step to develop the interstate dialogue.

Thanking the Turkmen leader for the heartfelt welcome Hugo Chavez noted that he was sincerely glad to visit Ashgabat – the city that he had heard about as the pearl of Central Asia. The guest said that Venezuela took keen interest in the progress of Turkmenistan, which had been advancing along the path of fundamental reforms and progressive changes since the first day of electing Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov President of the Turkmen state and emphasized that his country viewed this visit as an event of primary significance in the history of the bilateral relations that acquired a new dynamics and was filled with a new content.

During the meeting the leaders exchanged views on the key trends in Turkmen-Venezuelan cooperation and reaffirmed the mutual willingness to intensify the political dialogue as the reliable foundation for enhancing economic partnership that had the great prospects based on the profound resources and economic potential of the two countries.

Discussing the most promising trends in bilateral cooperation the sides focused n the fuel and energy sector that Turkmenistan intended to develop through increasing hydrocarbon production and export and enhancing the potential of processing industries including petrochemical industry. It was noted that the fulfillment of the designated tasks required attraction of additional investments, adoption of advanced technologies and state-of-the-art equipment and in this regard the profound experience of Venezuela – Latin America’s largest oil producer was deemed to be quite helpful.

The sides were unanimous that the vest opportunities for effective cooperation were opened up in chemical, food and textile industries, agriculture and other leading sectors of the two national economies. During the talks the Presidents paid particular attention to such an essential aspect as humanitarian cooperation and called for establishing close cultural, scientific and educational contacts.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that Turkmenistan was open for wide international cooperation and took the concrete steps to make the rich Turkmen market attractive for foreign companies and investors and provided the vivid examples of a number of the large-scale international and regional projects launched in the country. Focusing on the exceptional importance of the initiatives of the Turkmen leader, who was resolutely leading his country along the path of progress and wellbeing, Hugo Chavez emphasized that the business circles in Venezuela were intensively interested in establishing close business contacts with Turkmen partners.

Underscoring the mutual willingness to steadily enhance interstate collaboration in the whole spectrum of fields the sides focused on the need to create the reliable legal framework that would enable Turkmenistan and Venezuela to build versatile cooperation. Noting with satisfaction that both countries employed the pragmatic approach to building fruitful equal partnership the Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Hugo Chavez agreed to hold the bilateral meetings at the top and government levels on a regular basis.

Hugo Chavez invited the President of Turkmenistan to pay an official visit to Venezuela. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov accepted the invitation with gratitude. The dates of the visit would be adjusted through diplomatic channels.

During the meeting the side discussed the international political issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on a broad range of problems and challenges of the modern world, in particular maintenance of global peace, security and sustainable development.

Summing up the talks the President of Turkmenistan focused on the significance of the top level agreements and expressed belief that the meeting in Ashgabat had laid the reliable foundation for comprehensive development of Turkmen-Venezuelan cooperation for many years ahead.

Thanking for the heartfelt welcome extended in the Turkmen land and the Turkmen partners’ constructive approach to building the interstate dialogue the President of Venezuela expressed the best wishes of happiness, peace and wellbeing to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the people of Turkmenistan.

Upon concluding the top level talks the leaders of two countries visited the Ahalteke Horse Breeding Complex located at the picturesque foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains. The local specialists and renowned horse breeders greeted the honorary guests at the Ahalteke Complex.

President Hugo Chavez made an excursion around the Ahalteke Complex. The elite fast horses of the legendary breed, who had profoundly contributed to development of horse breeding worldwide, were demonstrated to the honorary guest. The specialists had arranged the exhibition of the wonderful Ahalteke horses – the winners of the prestigious international contests and the Turkmen skillful horsemen performed the bright show for the Presidents.

An official dinner was given in honour of the Venezuelan guest in the President’s apartments at the Ahalteke Complex. Upon concluding the dinner Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Hugo Chavez exchanged the heartfelt wishes of good health, every success and wellbeing to the two friendly peoples and bade cordial farewell.

From the Ahalteke Complex the President’s cortege headed for the Ashgabat International Airport, from which the Venezuelan leader left for the next destination.