Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Dec. 28
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussed priority areas of bilateral relations between the countries by phone, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen TV channel Altyn Asyr.
The heads of state noted the presence of solid potential for building up partnership in fuel and energy, industrial sector, transport and communications, agro-industry and implementation of large-scale joint projects.
The parties exchanged views on topical issues of the regional and global agenda. In this regard, the continued commitment of the two countries to coordinated interaction and mutual support within the UN, the CIS and other international organizations for ensuring global peace, security and sustainable development was emphasized.
Trade between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan amounted to $177.3 million in 2017, according to statistics.
In April, the two countries signed contracts and memorandums providing for joint projects worth over $250 million.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which have impressive hydrocarbon resources, favor diversification of energy flows.
The Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China Gas Pipeline, which was put into operation in 2009, is a good example of this.
Recently, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited businessmen of Uzbekistan to participate in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline project. Construction of the Turkmen section of the pipeline started in December 2015.
Uzbekistan was also invited to start developing oil and gas fields on the Turkmen shelf of the Caspian Sea.