Gilani, Turkmenistan president discuss collaboration in diverse sectors

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani called on President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow on Sunday and exchanged views on matters of mutual interests, besides collaboration in diverse sectors.

Gilani is on an official visit to Turkmenistan along with a delegation of senators.

According to the Senate Secretariat, Gilani was warmly welcomed by the Turkmenistan president while reciprocating best wishes to the leaders of Pakistan. Expressing confidence that the visit of the Senate chairman will be successful, Berdimuhamedow said it will stimulate the development of parliamentary relations between the two friendly countries.

Both sides agreed that bilateral relations were being successfully carried out in political, diplomatic, trade and economic, energy, transport, education, and humanitarian sectors, and the two countries consistently support international relations.

The Turkmenistan president said: “According to a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, the year 2025 has been declared the ‘Year of Peace and Trust’ on the initiative of Turkmenistan, and it coincides with the 30th anniversary of our neutrality role.”

He explained that a number of events have been planned in this regard and parliamentarians can participate in these activities.

Berdimuhamedow said Turkmenistan attaches great importance to the development of parliamentary relations between the two countries.

“Today, parliamentary relations help strengthen effective cooperation between countries. Parliamentary dialogue is an important part of the development of relations between the two countries. The parliamentary friendship group, which operates on a bilateral basis, provides opportunities for the exchange of experience in legislative work and the development of parliamentary diplomacy,” he noted.

Talking to the media, Gilani termed his meeting with Berdimuhamedov successful and fruitful, adding: “I conveyed best wishes to the Turkmenistan president from President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif”.

To a question, the Senate chairman said the activation of bilateral relations and further development were discussed while the importance of bilateral visits and the agreements reached were also emphasised.

He said the discussion with Berdimuhamedov also focused on development of several areas as they exchanged ideas on several implemented and planned projects. He observed that Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality was highly valued for being an important tool for strengthening peace in the region.

“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the independence of Turkmenistan,” he said, adding: “Relations between Turkmenistan and Pakistan have become more active.”