US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu, who arrived in Ashgabat on a visit, gave a briefing on Sunday, answering questions from representatives of local media and foreign publications accredited in Turkmenistan.

– Time travel is possible! – With these words, the American diplomat began his meeting with journalists. He said he was in Ashgabat 22 years ago, and when he was here two decades later, he saw "amazing and positive changes in the life of the city."

Anticipating the first and most obvious question about the purpose of the visit of the State Department delegation to Turkmenistan, Donald Lu said that the only reason and reason for this trip is to demonstrate that the United States is a reliable partner.

“There is no pressure from our side on political or military issues. We have great respect for the policy of Turkmenistan, its positive neutrality,” the Assistant Secretary of State assured.

“We see economies all over the world facing big problems. And during this visit, we are focusing our attention on economic interaction, trade relations and the environment,” Lu said.

He noted that in September Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced two new programs for Central Asia.

“This is $25 million in new economic assistance – this includes creating well-paying jobs in Central Asia and promoting the export of local goods to international markets. The second program, worth $16.5 million, specifically aims to promote food security in the region, explained Donald Lu.

At the end of his opening speech, the diplomat stressed that the United States has always supported the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Turkmenistan for 30 years. “And it has never been more important than it is now,” Lu added.

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