President urges swift completion of TTA with Turkmenistan

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for an early finalization of the Transit Trade Agreement (TTA) with Turkmenistan to further boost bilateral cooperation between the brotherly countries, and said that the agreement, once signed, would help expand trade, promote regional connectivity as well as enhance economic activities in the region.

President expressed these views in a meeting with Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan Atadjan Movlamov, who called on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.

Both sides expressed the desire for the early completion of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline, which would support Pakistan’s economy and help meet its energy needs. Welcoming the Ambassador, President Zardari said that Pakistan attached special value to its bilateral relations with Turkmenistan due to the centuries-old historical, religious and cultural links and wished to increase high-level exchanges to give fresh impetus to bilateral ties. He expressed Pakistan’s desire to work with Turkmenistan to further enhance cooperation.

The President highlighted the existing volume of trade between the two countries needed to be improved for the mutual benefit of the two countries. The President fondly recalled his visit to Turkmenistan during his first term as the President in 2010 to participate in the TAPI Summit as well as the 4th International Nauroze Festival in 2013.

Ambassador of Turkmenistan Atadjan Movlamov conveyed the warm greetings of the Turkmen President, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to President Asif Ali Zardari on his election. He said the Transit Trade Agreement would generate transit trade activities for both sides.

The Ambassador congratulated the President on assuming the office of the President. President Zardari expressed wishes for the leadership of Turkmenistan and thanked them for their felicitation.