Sheikh Khalifa, Berdymukhammedov hold talks

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov of Turkmenistan held a meeting that touched on ways to enhance bilateral relations, particularly in the fuelds of partnerships and investments. They also discussed latest regional developments and issues of mutual interest.

The meeting was followed by a round of talks between the two sides. Present from the UAE side were H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler s Representative in the Eastern Region, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President, Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, Mohammed Habroush Al Suweidi, Advisor to the President, Ahmed Juma Al Za'abi, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs, Khalfan Sultan bin Hidairoum Al Kutbi, Under secretary at the President's Private Department, Hassan Abdullah Al Adhab, UAE Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Sheikhs and senior officials.

Present from Turkmenistan side were Deputy Chairman of Cabinet and Minister of Foreign Affairs Meredov Rasit, Deputy Chairman of Cabinet and Chairman of Presidential Court Muhammadov Khoja, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Oil '&' Gas Baymyrat Hojamuhammedov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Agriculture '&' Water Resources Mammetnyyaz Nurmammedov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Education, Health and sport Taulif Safrzurdri, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Economy '&' Finance Annamuhammet Gocyyev, Kkayev YakhshiJeldi, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for External Petroleum Investments and Oraz Murad Qurban,Turkmenistan's Ambassador to the UAE.

President Berdymukhammedov welcomed Sheikh Khalifa, describing UAE as one of Turkmenistan's key partners. The two leaders reiterated their keenness to make use of all commercial and economic potentials to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. They also stressed the importance of coordinating the two countries stands in regional, international and humanitarian arenas. They also emphasised the need to enhance cultural exchange and to expand cooperation in tourism, sports and education. They also confirmed the two countries' determination to build an environment of mutual trust and understanding and to boost regional and international stability. They also referred to the need to resolve international issues through diplomatic and peaceful means.

The talks covered situation in Central Asia and Middle East, as well as regional and international developments of mutual concern. They also touched on investments between UAE and Turkmenistan in the fields of oil and gas, petroleum products, petrochemicals, and renewable energy through joint commission at the foreign ministers levels.

Sheikh Khalifa said the UAE was keen to provide more opportunities for cooperation and joint investments between the two countries. He added that Turkmenistan was one of the region's important countries and expressed the hope that the talks will yield a fruitful outcome. President Berdymukhammedov referred to the visit he made recently to the UAE which culminated in signing an agreement, an MOU and creation of a joint commission between the two countries.

The two leaders witnessed signing of an MOU for cooperation between the foreign ministries in the two countries. It was signed by UAE Foreign Minister H.H. sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Turkmen counterpart Meredov Rasit and an agreement on cooperation in standardisation, metrology, conformity and accreditation, signed by UAE Minister of Environment and Water Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad and Chairman of Turkmenistan's National Authority for Quality and Specification Control Taj Mamidov.

Sheikh Khalifa and President Berdymukhammedov said the agreements signed today reflected the two countries' joint desire to strengthen their relations. They added that they were considered an extension to other agreements and MOUs signed between the two countries and covering different areas such as oil and gas, minerals, avoidance of double taxation and encouraging joint investments.

A joint statement issued by the two countries at the end of Sheikh Khalifa's official visit to Turkmenistan which detailed the talks held between the two sides, covering bilateral relations, regional and international developments and issues of mutual interests. The statement also expressed the two countries' keenness to enhance cooperation in economic, social, cultural domains. It said that the two leaders agreed that terrorism, international crimes, illegal trade in drugs and narcotics were considered a major threat to peace and stability and expressed readiness for cooperation to confront these challenges.