ASHGABAT (TCA) — Development of interstate cooperation was discussed during the talks held by Turkmenistan Government delegation led by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Tokyo, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.
On October 22, members of the Turkmenistan delegation were received by Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. Having confirmed high interest of his country in further improvement of partnership with Turkmenistan, the head of the Japanese Government expressed the gratitude to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov for his personal contribution to development of traditionally friendly Turkmen–Japanese relations.
During the meeting, the sides discussed opportunities of intensification of productive partnership by implementation of new joint projects with Japanese companies in petrochemical industry, electrical energy, transport sphere, and modernization of the railway network in Turkmenistan.
In addition, the Turkmen delegation had meetings with leaders of ministries and departments of Japan.
Various aspects of cooperation in transport sphere were discussed during the talks with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan Keiichi Ishii. Shipbuilding, automobile and railway transport were outlined as priority aspects.
Opportunities of joint work in telecommunication were reviewed at the meeting with Minister of Communications of Japan Masatoshi Ishida. In particular, the Japanese side expressed interest and willingness to support the construction of a subsea fibre optic cable between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.
Partnership in the economic sphere was discussed during the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finances Taro Aso. Special attention was paid to financing of projects in Turkmenistan with participation of Japanese companies.
On October 23, the Turkmen delegation met with President of Japanese International Cooperation Agency Shinichi Kitaoka. The sides noted positive experience of cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and JICA gained for more than 20 years. High efficiency of projects for improvement of qualification of Turkmen specialists in different spheres was highlighted. In addition, the Agency arranged joint work of scientists of the two countries in seismology. Necessity of further expansion of bilateral relations in the educational sphere was mentioned in the aspect of future partnership.
The head of JICA expressed the interest in cooperation in social sphere projects. From this point of view, the Turkmen side proposed to consider the participation in the project of modernization of the railroads in Turkmenistan as socially important and aimed at provision of high quality services to the population of the country.
