Oriented on making people closer

Speaking to the participants of the International Conference "International Year of Peace and Trust: The Role of Interregional Cooperation in Ensuring Sustainable Development", Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov especially emphasized that Turkmenistan consistently links the concept of peace and trust with economic development.

And in this context, the current year, proclaimed the "International Year of Peace and Trust", should become an incentive for intensifying economic cooperation. The National Leader of the Turkmen people emphasized that the principles of equality, mutual trust and benefit should underlie international economic cooperation.

In the speech of the head of the highest representative body of people's power, much attention was paid to the fact that the success of large economic, infrastructure, trade and investment projects directly depends on compliance with the principles of equal partnership and trust between the parties.

In the modern world, there is an increase in regional and interregional integration, the formation of new economic unions. Today's era is characterized by rapid development based on the use of natural resources, modern technologies and environmental standards.

For effective interaction in the current conditions, a global approach is needed, including the active participation of international institutions and financial organizations. In this regard, Turkmenistan consistently promotes the concept of a fair geo-economy, develops infrastructure systems and implements large-scale projects in the field of energy and transport.

An example of such an approach is the economic cooperation of Central and South Asia. An important role in this process is played by energy, transport and infrastructure projects aimed at uniting these regions. Among them, a significant position is occupied by the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, designed to provide energy supply to countries with a total population of 1.75 billion people.

The implementation of the TAPI project, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized, is proceeding in accordance with the approved program. A 214-kilometer section of the gas pipeline has already been built in Turkmenistan, and in September last year, construction of the 153-kilometer section "Arkadagyň ak ýoly" in Afghanistan began.

At the same time, special emphasis was placed on the social significance of the project: it is expected to create 12 thousand jobs in Afghanistan, as well as resolve a number of humanitarian issues.

The implementation of TAPI requires solving many legal, financial and commercial issues. In this regard, the Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty expressed confidence that the current international conference will become an important platform for exchanging views between specialists in the energy and financial sectors.

The National Leader of the Turkmen people also noted that the Central Asian countries are actively cooperating in the field of electricity supplies to border regions. Turkmenistan is one of the key producers of electricity and has been exporting it to Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan for many years.

Work is also underway to implement the project to build a high-voltage power transmission line Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan, which will expand electricity supplies to South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, the development of transport infrastructure is underway. Central and South Asia are becoming important links in Eurasian economic strategies, and Turkmenistan, as the Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty noted, is striving to effectively use existing and create new transport corridors. This contributes to the development of passenger and freight transportation in the North-South and East-West directions.

Within the framework of these initiatives, projects for the construction of railways and highways are being implemented, seaports and logistics centers are being modernized.

In particular, as the head of the supreme representative body of people's power emphasized, the railway line connecting the Turkmen city of Kerki with the Afghan city of Andkhoy is already functioning, and the construction of a railway from the Turkmen-Afghan border to Herat is also being considered.

At the same time, cooperation with international financial organizations, investment funds and banking institutions plays a key role. Turkmenistan, as already reported, maintains close partnership with such structures as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as with funds and banks of friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

The National Leader emphasized that the tasks of Asian countries are not limited to the implementation of individual economic projects. It is important to create sustainable peace, an atmosphere of trust and favorable conditions for broad international cooperation.

And for this, as Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov believes, it is necessary to use all available resources and create one of the promising world centers of energy and transport and communications interaction.

Turkmenistan, adhering to the policy of permanent neutrality and openness, is ready for productive cooperation with all interested partners. And in this regard, the head of the Khalk Maslakhaty expressed confidence that the current conference will be an important step in the implementation of these strategic goals.

The participants of the international forum, among whom were representatives of foreign countries, international organizations and large companies, which is evidence of the high interest in cooperation with Turkmenistan, listened with great attention to the speech of Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

ORIENT

Photo: tdh.gov.tm