A branch of the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas will open in Ashgabat starting from 1 September this year. The comprehensive preparatory work was completed and a protocol on setting up the university's branch in Ashgabat was signed, Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev said during the talks with Turkmen President Gurbanuly Berdimuhamedov on July 4.

In the end of the Turkmen-Russian summit, the sides also signed a memorandum of cooperation between the two culture ministries on TV and Radio broadcast for 2008-2010, as well as an agreement on cooperation in the sphere of education.

The sides also agreed to hold the year of Russia in Turkmenistan and the year of Turkmenistan in Russia in 2009-2010.

Dmitriy Medvedev noted that the expansion of cooperation in the humanitarian sphere was a key area of bilateral cooperation. "We have achieved a major progress in this area," he said.