Turkmenistan Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Antonella Bassani held a meeting in Ashgabat on February 28. The meeting was also attended by World Bank regional directors and representatives of the International Finance Corporation.

The parties discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation, identified priorities for interaction, including energy, transport and connectivity, and effective water management as a key factor in sustainable development.

The Turkmen side voiced its unchanged official position on resolving water issues in the Central Asian region, based on three principles: first, compliance with international law, second, taking into account the interests of all states in the region, and third, participation of international organizations, primarily the UN, in this process.

It was especially noted that the construction of hydraulic structures and water management facilities on transboundary rivers in Central Asia should be carried out in strict compliance with high technological, environmental, technical and other international standards.

In addition, the parties discussed in detail joint work in the field of transport and connectivity, renewable energy sources and the reduction of methane emissions.

Rashid Meredov and Antonella Bassani expressed their readiness to develop cooperation on all key tracks, including issues of effective water resources management, energy, transport and connectivity.

The day before, on February 27, the Vice President of the World Bank also met with Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan Mammetguly Astanagulov, agreeing with him on further steps to implement joint projects.

ORIENT