Serdar Berdimuhamedov: the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi is one of the ideological sources of Turkmen neutrality
Deepening interaction between Turkmenistan and India is in the mutual interest aimed at further rapprochement and mutual understanding of peoples in the long term, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said on Saturday after talks with President Ram Nath Kovind.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Serdar Berdimuhamedov stressed that the talks demonstrated the existence of mutual understanding and coincidence of principles and approaches on the main issues of international politics, says the ANI News Service.
“We reaffirmed the mutual desire of our countries to contribute to strengthening peace and stability, establishing a climate of trust and mutual understanding in Central Asia and the Asian space as a whole. In this regard, we attach great importance to strengthening regional and global security, preventing conflict situations, creating strong political and legal conditions for the progressive development of relations between states based on recognized international legal norms and the Charter of the United Nations,” the President of Turkmenistan said.
Turkmenistan and India are firm supporters of building a fair and balanced system of international relations based on the interests of all states, strengthening the role of developing countries in world politics, the head of state noted.
The parties agreed to continue mutual support in international organizations, primarily in the UN, to develop cooperation in the Non-Aligned Movement, the goals and principles of which are especially in demand against the backdrop of the complex processes and trends that are currently observed in a number of regions of the world, the ANI news agency notes in its report.
“We also agreed to further consolidate efforts to counter new challenges and threats to international security, including the fight against terrorism, extremism, transnational crime and drug trafficking. During the talks with the President of India, we paid much attention to the situation in Afghanistan,” said Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
Both the Turkmen and the Indian people want to see Afghanistan as a peaceful and prosperous, good neighbor and partner of all the states of the region. In this context, the head of Turkmenistan highly appreciated the efforts of India in the Afghan direction, including the successfully organized “Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan” on November 10-11, 2021 and the subsequent adoption of the Delhi Declaration.
During the discussion of issues of energy cooperation, special attention was paid to the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. It was confirmed that the construction of TAPI, in addition to economic feasibility for all its stakeholders, is intended to make a great contribution to strengthening stability in the region, mutual understanding and trust between member states, and promoting economic and political rapprochement between them.
Recognizing the strategic nature of cooperation in the field of transport, the presidents agreed on mutual assistance in creating sustainable Eurasian corridors to Indian sea terminals through the territory of Turkmenistan, including using the infrastructure available in the country on the Caspian Sea. In particular, Serdar Berdimuhamedov suggested organizing direct negotiations on cooperation between the ports of Chabahar and Turkmenbashi.
It was reported that it was reached an agreement on expanding cooperation in the field of education and science, in particular, between higher educational institutions of the two countries, as well as through the Academies of Sciences.
Noting that India was one of the first countries in the world to recognize the independence of Turkmenistan and actively supported its neutrality, first in the Non-Aligned Movement and then in the UN, Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude for this support and added that the philosophy of non-violence and peaceful coexistence of spiritual leader of the Indian people, Mahatma Gandhi , whose monument was unveiled in 2015 in Ashgabat, was one of the ideological and moral sources of Turkmen neutrality.
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