Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, 22 March / Trend H. Hasanov /
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Ashgabat, the Turkmen government said on Friday.
Currently (March 21-22), Turkmenistan is holding celebrations on the occasion of the international Novruz holiday, which is celebrated this year in Ashgabat at a high level with participation of the regional heads of state.
According to the report, during the talks in Ashgabat, the Iranian president said he was confident that "cooperation between the two countries, based on the age old relationships of friendship and brotherhood will reach a new level soon consolidating its reputation as an exemplary good neighbourly partnership."
The Turkmen president noted that cooperation with Iran "is of strategic importance for the development of effective trade and economic relations in the region."
Presidents of neighbouring countries also stressed the significant potential for cooperation and the opportunities for its implementation in various industries. Joint projects such as the common pipelines that supply Turkmenistan's natural gas to Iran, were mentioned. The continued laying of the transnational North-South railway which will provide the most convenient route for transportation of goods from Europe in a southern direction to the Persian Gulf was also a subject of discussion.
Iran and Turkmenistan have common land borders and are Caspian neighbours. The neighbouring states have built two common gas pipelines, power lines, border dam and other facilities. Turkmenistan has been transporting natural gas to the northern provinces of Iran since 1995.