Turkmenistan and Russia are preparing for signing a number of documents on trade and economic cooperation, they are planned to be concluded during the first official visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the Russian Federation on June 10, the Russian government said in a statement.

On the eve of the high-level talks, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak met with Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Shahym Abdrakhmanov.

The decision of the elected president of Turkmenistan to make his first official foreign visit to Russia confirms the course of official Ashgabat to further strengthen relations with Moscow, Alexander Novak noted during the meeting.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Russia noted the significant role of the fuel and energy complex in the economic cooperation between the two countries. “The fuel and energy complex historically occupies one of the main places in our trade and economic turnover. Turkmenistan has significant natural gas reserves, and “Gazprom” is successfully cooperating with “Turkmengas” through this line, and an agreement for the purchase and sale of Turkmen gas has been concluded since July 1, 2019. In addition, Russia provides services for the transportation of Turkmen oil, there is interaction in the oil sector, and work continues on the reconstruction of Turkmen energy facilities,” Alexander Novak said.

Also, Russia and Turkmenistan have significant opportunities to increase cargo flows along the eastern route of the North-South international transport corridor. Already, Russian companies are actively working with their Turkmen colleagues on the issues of their participation in the projects of electrification of the railway lines of Turkmenistan, modernization of its railway infrastructure. By joint efforts, we will solve the issue of attracting transit cargo, in general, we will realize the transit potential of Turkmenistan, Novak said.

Alexander Novak conveyed invitations to the Turkmen delegation to visit the 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, and also invited them to participate in the second Caspian Economic Forum and the Russian Energy Forum, scheduled for this autumn.

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