Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Nov. 17 / Trend H.Hasanov /
Turkmen and Iranian presidents Gurbangulu Berdimuhammedov and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed the need to intensify their partnership via major joint projects serving the prosperity of both of their countries and the region as a whole, the Turkmen government reported.
The telephone conversation between the leaders was initiated by the Iranian side.
The two sides congratulated each other on the holy Qurban holiday and discussed topical international and regional issues of mutual interest.
Moreover, the parties stressed the demand for and the economic feasibility of the international New Uzen-Gizilgaya-Bereket-Etrek-Gurgen railway, which will provide the shortest path to Central Asia and Persian Gulf countries by connecting Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
The railway is expected to be commissioned in December 2011. It will be possible to carry up to 5 million tons of cargo annually during the first years of operation. In the future, the figure will grow to 10-12 million tons per year. Construction is carried out under an agreement signed by the presidents of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Iran.
The two neighboring states have already implemented several projects, including the Tejan-Sarakhs-Mashad railway connecting Central Asia and Europe, which has become an important transit route, as well as gas pipelines, the modern high-voltage Balkanabat-Ali-Abad transmission line, and the Dostluk Reservoir.
The presidents also discussed their upcoming joint project to build the North-South transport corridor, and completed projects such as the Turkmenistan-Iran gas pipeline.