Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, September 7 / Trend H. Hasanov /
During talks with the Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on September 7, the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, suggested launching cooperation in the economic sphere and oil and gas sector, a source close to the negotiations said.
Turkmenistan and Venezuela have rich hydrocarbon resources.
During the meeting in Ashgabat, cooperation in the fuel-energy sector was discussed in particular, and Chavez once again voiced his idea to create an organization consisting of gas producing countries like "OPEC". It is known that besides Venezuela followers of this project are Russia and Iran.
During the top-level meeting, besides prospects in the economy, questions on a scientific and cultural partnership were raised. Views on issues of mutual interest were also exchanged.
Earlier the Venezuelan President had paid a visit to Tehran, Iran. After Ashgabat he will stay in Minsk, Belarus. Chavez is the first of the Latin American countries' leaders who has visited Turkmenistan. According to local media, it is "another piece of evidence that the entire international community is interesting in establishing close ties with highly and dynamically developing Turkmenistan."
"The Ashgabat meeting can be regarded as the beginning of a constructive inter-state dialogue, evidence of the mutual willingness and readiness of two friendly countries to develop multifaceted cooperation," Turkmen state news service, Dovlet Haberleri, said on September 7.
"Turkmenistan and Venezuela intend to establish relations of civilized inter-state cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally, especially within the large international organizations, and, solely on the principles of sound pragmatism, trust and mutual benefit. These countries strictly follow the principles of non-interference in each other's internal affairs and respect the choice of their own path of development," the national TV channel Altyn Asyr said on September 7.
Turkmenistan and Venezuela established diplomatic relations in 1996.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]