Kingdom, Turkmenistan sign cooperation pacts in key areas

  RIYADH -- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held official talks at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Sunday. They also attended the signing of nine agreements and memorandums of cooperation between the two countries. At the outset of the talks, King Salman welcomed the Turkmen leader to his second home, Saudi Arabia, and wished him a good stay. He said the president's visit comes as a sign of enhancing relations between the two countries in all fields, particularly commerce and investment; tourism; oil, gas and energy; agriculture and livestock, and combating terrorism and extremism. The monarch praised the outcome of Turkmenistan's wise policies, including the country's neutrality, respect for good neighborliness and support for the Islamic Military Alliance to combat terrorism, which led to political stability and economic growth in the country. He expressed hope that the global community would succeed in finding a solution to the Syrian crisis according to Geneva 1 Declaration and UN Resolution 2254. He also hoped that the negotiations among the Yemeni parties would lead to solving the crisis in the country according to the Gulf initiative, outcomes of national dialogue and UN Resolution 2216. "We call on Iran to stop intervening in the domestic affairs of countries in the region and supporting militias and armed factions," the King said. Concluding his speech, King Salman expressed confidence that cooperation between the Kingdom and Turkmenistan would enhance in all fields, forging a durable partnership to best serve the interests of the two peoples. For his part, the Turkmen president expressed his happiness in visiting Saudi Arabia and meeting with King Salman. He thanked the Saudi monarch for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and the delegation accompanying him. He confirmed the firmness of bilateral relations between the two countries characterized by fruitful cooperation in all fields, including commerce and economy. Berdimuhamedov pointed to his country's keenness to develop all aspects of cooperation with Saudi Arabia and support its efforts aimed at achieving security and peace in the region and the world at large. The two sides discussed various aspects of cooperation and reviewed the latest developments in regional and international arenas. The two leaders later witnessed the signing of nine agreements, memorandums of understanding and cooperation programs between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan. An agreement on cooperation in the security field was signed by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, and Turkmenistan's Minister of Defense and Secretary for National Security Yaylim Perdiv. A memorandum of understanding in the field of sports was signed by Prince Abdullah Bin Musaed, president of youth welfare, and Kakabye Siddove, head of the Sports Committee in Turkmenistan. An agreement on avoiding dual taxation was signed by Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf and his Turkmen counterpart Mohammed Goli Mohammadov. A memorandum on financing of projects in Turkmenistan between the government of Turkmenistan and the Saudi Development Fund (SDF) was signed by Al-Assaf, who is also chairman of the board of directors of SDF, and Raheem Berdi Jubarov, president of the State Bank Board of Directors for External Economic Affairs in Turkmenistan. A memorandum in the field of commerce and industry was signed by Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabia, minister of commerce and industry, and Doran Moradov, Turkmenistan's minister of commerce and external economic relations. A memorandum on political consultations was signed by Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir, and Rashid Meridov, deputy premier and minister of foreign affairs of Turkmenistan. A memorandum of cooperation in scientific and educational fields was signed by Minister of Education Dr. Ahmed Al-Issa and Borly Agamor Adov, minister of education of Turkmenistan. An agreement on air services was signed by President of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) Suleiman Bin Abdullah Al-Hamdan and Merdan Ayadiov, head of the National Agency for Turkmenistan Airlines. A cooperation program between Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Relations Institute under Turkmenistan's Foreign Ministry was concluded and signed by Dr. Abdulkareem Al-Dakheel, director general of Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute, and Baba Dhahrove, head of the International Relations Institute in Turkmenistan. The talks were attended on the Saudi side by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, Riyadh Emir Prince Faisal Bin Bandar, Minister of State Prince Mansour Bin Miteb, Minister of National Guard Prince Miteb Bin Abdullah, Al-Assaf, Al-Rabia and other senior officials. Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, met separately with President Berdimuhamedov on Sunday. They discussed prospects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries and issues of common interest. The deputy crown prince also met with Turkmenistan's Minister of Defense Yaylim Perdiv and discussed defense cooperation between the two countries. Earlier, the Turkmen leader received at his residence Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir. Meanwhile, Minister of Economy and Planning Adel Fakeih met with Bashem Morad Hoja Mamedev, Turkmenistan's deputy premier in charge of economic and development affairs, at King Saud Guest Palace in Riyadh Sunday. During the meeting, ways of enhancing and developing cooperation in economic and commercial fields between the two countries were discussed. Education Minister Al-Issa also held talks with his Turkmen counterpart. They discussed ways of exchanging education experience between the two countries. GACA President Al-Hamdan met with Turkmenistan's civil aviation chief Ayadov and discussed ways of enhancing cooperation between the two agencies and exchanging of information. — SG/SPA