Ayaz, Gurbanguly stress closer mutual ties

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq called on President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Islamabad on Wednesday and during the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed a number of issues of common interest between the two countries and ways of strengthening relations.

Referring to the brotherly ties with Pakistan and Turkmenistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that Turkmenistan held a unique importance in Pakistan’s aspirations for regional connectivity. He remarked that Turkmenistan and Pakistan were intertwined by stronger multi-dimensional relations well grounded in shared strategic interests, people-to-people contacts and cultural affinities.

The speaker highly appreciated Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s commitment to facilitating TAPI Pipeline and his vision for regional connectivity.He outlined that Turkmenistan’s cooperation in energy sector was crucial to easing Pakistan’s energy crisis and further urged for diversification and expansion of trade relations.

He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment for strengthening ‘The Turkmenistan-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission’ for advancing mutual interests and facilitating cooperation in political, trade, scientific, technical and humanitarian spheres,” he added.

The speaker underlined the need for pro-active parliamentary diplomacy to further cooperation between the two friendly nations. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq reiterated Pakistan’s commitment for facilitating rail, road and energy infrastructure to deepen regional cooperation and connectivity.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan was determined to fostering robust ties with Pakistan through enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

He remarked that Pakistan-Turkmenistan bilateral cooperation would unleash a new wave of connectivity in the region. He further appreciated Pakistan’s fight against terrorists and remarked that Pakistan and Turkmenistan was pivotal to tackling regional security issues.He reaffirmed his commitment for expanding trade and cultural relations with Pakistan and urged the need for greater exchanges of Parliamentary delegations.