Heads of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey discussed collaboration in the period of pandemic

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has congratulated by telephone the heads of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey on Kurban Bayram, which these days is celebrating by the Muslim world, and discussed with them a joint project of the Lapis Lazuli Transport Corridor and the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The common topics of the three telephone conversations included issues related to cooperation and development of traditionally fraternal relations between the countries.

President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, and Azerbaijani and Turkish leaders Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted that our peoples are united by common spiritual and historical roots, which help to fulfill the great potential of partnership at the present stage.

The heads of state discussed the measures being taken and have to be taken in response to such a global threat as the outbreak of coronavirus, which has overwhelmed most of the countries. Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s position on this issue and readiness to cooperate in addressing this problem, including the reduction of the negative impact of its aftermath on the economy and international trade.

In this regard, an important role is assigned to the transport partnership. The Presidents exchanged views on the importance of the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, an interstate agreement on which was signed by Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkmenistan and Turkey in Ashgabat in 2017.

This project is aimed at a more active economic integration of a large region, including the participating countries, through strengthening its transport connectivity, expanding transit freight traffic, which will stimulate trade links between Europe and Asia.