A welcoming ceremony; the Turkmen and Uzbek presidents held a one-to-one meeting.

During talks which were held in the spirit of friendship, mutual understanding and constructiveness, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Islam Karimov discussed the implementation of agreements, including those achieved as a result of the Uzbek president’s state visit to Turkmenistan in October 2007.

Having exchanged views on a wide range of issues of bilateral and regional partnership, the sides highlighted the fuel and energy sector, trade, agriculture, the economic, transportation and communications spheres among the priority areas. Humanitarian cooperation was a topic of a special discussion. In this context, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Islam Karimov both spoke in favour of continuing the fruitful dialogue in the areas of education, science and culture.

Then, the talks were continued in an expanded format with the participation of the government delegations of both countries in the Dormon residence’s conference hall.

Speaking about independent neutral Turkmenistan’s achievements, namely the results of the implementation of its publicly elected leader’s progressive policy, the Uzbek president, in particular, noted that the main purpose of that policy was to ensure the Turkmen people’s worthy life and strengthen the country’s image on the international arena. Having stated the closeness and similarity of both countries’ approaches almost on a whole range of issues of regional and international politics, Islam Karimov underlined that Uzbekistan supported Turkmenistan’s foreign policy strategy. In that connection, the Uzbek leader highly evaluated the fact that a UN regional centre for Preventive Diplomacy was opened in Ashgabat and expressed his country’s readiness to take an active part in the work of that centre which should become an important factor in the consolidation of joint efforts in countering the challenges and threats of the contemporary world.

Moving on to the issues of Turkmen-Uzbek cooperation, Islam Karimov said that the sides agreed that its potential was so large that it allowed building joint collaboration plans for many years to come. Having underlined the huge potential of bilateral trade and economic relations, Islam Karimov noted the Turkmen-Uzbek intergovernmental commission’s weighty role in the agreements reached at a session of the commission in Ashgabat.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted full mutual understanding on topical regional and international issues, primarily in the areas of ensuring peace, security, stability and sustainable development. In this context, the Turkmen president specifically noted the constructive nature of the Turkmen-Uzbek collaboration within the framework of international organizations, particularly the UN.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted the Turkmen side’s interest in purchasing agricultural equipment manufactured in the neighbouring state. The Turkmen leader said that the sides agreed that partnership between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the whole spectrum of issues had very promising prospects. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, in particular, spoke about opportunities for trade and economic cooperation and noted that a common goal was set in this area, which was to significantly increase the volume of trade between the two countries in the near future. A set of measures being taken to increase the effectiveness of economic relations are aimed at this. As a result, the trade between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan increased almost by 1.7 last year. At the same time, the Turkmen leader named the fuel and energy sector, agriculture and water management, transportation, and tourism among the priority areas of cooperation.

Following the talks in an expanded format, a ceremony to sign bilateral documents was held. The documents signed include an agreement between the government of Turkmenistan and the government of Uzbekistan on cooperation in the field of agriculture, an agreement between the government of Turkmenistan and the government of Uzbekistan on cooperation in the area of maintenance and conducting repair and restoration work on economic facilities of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan which are situated in the border areas of the two countries; a protocol on cooperation between the two countries’ foreign ministries, an agreement between the government of Turkmenistan and the government of Uzbekistan on cooperation in the area of government communications.

Accompanied by applause of those present, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Islam Karimov put their signatures under a joint Uzbek-Turkmen communiqué and a protocol on exchanging instruments of ratification of an agreement on further strengthening friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan [which was signed on 18 October 2007].

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said: "Another important document is the agreement signed today on cooperation in the area of maintenance and conducting repair and restoration work on economic facilities of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan which are situated in each other’s territories. In our view, this is a fundamentally important document which regulates the procedure and conditions for servicing such facilities and conducting repair and restoration work on them. The main purpose of this agreement is to further improve relations between economic facilities of the two countries and creating favourable conditions for their operation."

A protocol on cooperation between our countries’ foreign ministries will serve to strengthen a political dialogue between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. This document is necessary and timely, as our bilateral relations are being stepped up at the highest state level between the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It envisage the conduct of bilateral consultations on Turkmen-Uzbek relations, as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Berdimuhamedov invited Karimov to visit Turkmenistan, he goes to sightseeing in Tashkent.