Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Jan. 16 /Trend H. Hasanov /
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received the U.S. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake, the Turkmen government reported.
As stated in the information, both sides noted with satisfaction a similarity or identity of the two countries' positions on a number of modern pressing issues which allows them to communicate effectively on the world stage.
It was noted that the diplomat expressed the willingness of the U.S. to continue joint efforts with Turkmenistan towards ensuring stability, security and prosperity in the region.
According to a governmental report from Ashgabat Blake highly valued Turkmenistan's international initiatives to search jointly for solutions to global problems of our time.
In particular, Turkmenistan was commended for its efforts to stabilise situation in neighbouring Afghanistan, including through the implementation of a number of important programmes and in particular, construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.
"The President and his guest were unanimous in their opinion that the confidential nature of relations allows Turkmenistan and the United States not only to implement all the reached agreements, but to create new directions of long term cooperation comprised of successful cooperation in trade, economy, oil, gas and energy sectors, agriculture, transport and communication and education."
In recent years, Barack Obama's administration has set a course of rapprochement with Caspian Turkmenistan. Exhibitions of American companies were held in Ashgabat, followed by a business forum and high level business meetings.
Political consultations became regular, cooperation is continuing in areas such as the supply of agricultural equipment, modernisation of Turkmenistan's civil aviation fleet and import of power equipment.
Representative offices of large U.S. companies such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, General Electric and Case were opened in Turkmenistan, a number of which previously worked through intermediaries.
The White House began actively supporting the regional gas pipeline projects from Turkmenistan and in particular, TAPI.
Turkmenistan has a long border with Afghanistan which has remained a tension zone in the region for a long period. Ashgabat has expressed its readiness to provide political space for holding an Afghan peace dialogue under auspices of UN.
The TAPI project is also connected with Afghanistan. Observers believe that implementation of TAPI can contribute to the restoration process in Afghanistan, as it will create jobs and provide the country with a guaranteed income from transit.