In an interview to online media CentralAsia.news, Yuri Aronsky, an economist, a scientist, the chairman of the Union of Economists of Turkmenistan (EET), representative of the Coordinating Council of the International Union of Economists, analyzed the events that took place in the past year and prove the commitment of Turkmenistan and Russia to further deepening multi-level ties.
Cooperation in medicine
Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation are two friendly states, which prioritize their multifaceted policy of strengthening the material wealth of their citizens. Fruitful contacts have been established and new business ties have been built up in various areas of the economy.
The last year, despite the coronavirus pandemic, has also become very fruitful. Thanks to constant contacts at the interstate level, the areas of mutual interests and areas of cooperation between the states have been concretized.
The level of development of health care is one of the main indicators of the quality of life of the population in any country.
On January 18, Turkmenistan registered the Sputnik V vaccine created by scientists from the Gamaleya Research Center with the support of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. Turkmenistan has become the first state in Central Asia to officially approve the use of this vaccine on its territory, and entered the top ten countries where it was registered. Just a few days later, the second Russian vaccine was registered.
Participation in regional structures
In early April, a Turkmen delegation was sent to Moscow to hold talks on bilateral cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation.
There were meetings of the heads of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Russian Commission on Economic Cooperation, as well as political consultations between the foreign ministers of the two countries. The diplomats took part in a regular meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers. At the same time, representatives of Turkmenistan and government agencies of the Russian Federation signed an impressive package of cooperation documents.
On April 29-30, the delegation of Turkmenistan took part in the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EIPC), held in Kazan, the Republic of Tatarstan, the Russian Federation.
Relations with large regions of Russia
In an interview with the journalist of the interstate television and radio company «Mir», the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed the commitment of Turkmenistan to a peaceful foreign policy aimed at strengthening and building up a multi-vector international partnership that meets the goals of common prosperity and progress. The interview was a political event of historic significance.
Bilateral relations with long-standing, time-tested partners, including the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, also receive new incentives. On May 17, the capital of Turkmenistan hosted negotiations between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. A thorough exchange of views on the priority areas of effective partnership with a view to the near and long term took place between politicians.
Two more meetings with the heads of the regions of the Russian Federation took place later.
On September 26, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received the Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov, who arrived in Turkmenistan to participate in the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the independence of Turkmenistan. During the meeting, specific steps to implement the agreements reached earlier, in particular, those outlined in the Road Map signed in February last year for cooperation in trade, economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and humanitarian fields for 2020–2025 were discussed.
On December 9, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received the Governor of the Astrakhan Region of Russia Igor Babushkin. It was noted that in the future, high-quality use of the potential of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport will be in great demand. In this regard, the parties decided to carry out regular passenger and cargo flights to the ports of a number of the Caspian states, including the port of Olya (Russian Federation).
Igor Babushkin expressed gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for the close attention paid to the expansion of bilateral cooperation, as well as for the humanitarian assistance provided by Turkmenistan to the Astrakhan region in the fight against COVID-19.
Friendly relations are the key to great achievements
On June 3-4, the delegation of Turkmenistan paid a working visit to St. Petersburg. The officials took part in the work of the XXIV St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
During the year, several telephone conversations and face-to-face meetings were held. So, on June 29, a telephone conversation between Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Vladimir Putin took place. The head of the friendly country warmly and cordially congratulated the Turkmen leader on his birthday, wishing him sound health, prosperity, and further success in multifaceted state activities. On the same day, Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, congratulated the head of Turkmenistan on telephone.
The priority directions for the development of a constructive inter-parliamentary dialogue were discussed in the framework of a telephone conversation between the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan Gulshat Mammedova and the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko held on October 18.
On October 20, the VIII Turkmen-Russian Economic Forum was held via videoconference. The participants of the event discussed joint investment and production projects, strengthening and expanding cooperation in the field of industry and production of building materials, textile industry, agriculture, as well as collaboration in logistics. tourism and digital technologies.
The development of trade and economic relations takes a special place on the agenda of the multifaceted Turkmen-Russian partnership, which is largely facilitated by the effective work of the joint Intergovernmental Commission.
The favorable investment climate created in the promising Turkmen market and the formed reliable legal base act as a reliable guarantor for Russian investments. This is evidenced by the numerous cross-sectoral videoconferences, online meetings at the ministerial and departmental levels.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov spoke vividly about Turkmen-Russian relations in an exclusive interview held by First Deputy Director General of TASS Mikhail Gusman. The head of the state answered many questions regarding various aspects of relations between Turkmenistan and Russia.