Neutral Turkmenistan, adhering to the policy of friendship and good neighbourliness, continues to strengthen strategic cooperation with Afghanistan. The two states hold regular meetings at various levels, including visits by government members and ministers. A CentralAsia.news correspondent Galina Gurbanova commented on the progress made to strengthen long-term Turkmenistan-Afghanistan partnerships.
Over the past three weeks, two Afghan government delegations paid important visits to Turkmenistan. In late February, Ashgabat received Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi, and in early March, Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Haji Nooruddin Azizi visited Turkmenistan.
The heads of the Afghan delegations held meetings with the members of the Government of Turkmenistan and made trips to a number of industrial facilities, including the Turkmenbashi international seaport. Ashgabat hosted a bilateral business forum and a commodity exhibition of Afghanistan.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi discussed key aspects of energy cooperation: the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan power line and railways. The parties confirmed once again mutual readiness to implement these projects. An exchange of views on the possibilities of training Afghan specialists in various fields at higher and secondary educational institutions in Turkmenistan took place.
The agenda of the visit of the Afghan delegation led by Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Haji Nooruddin Azizi focused on the prospects for building up trade and economic partnerships between the two countries. Afghanistan that has no access to the sea is seeking to use the capacities of the Turkmenbashi international port to export its products (vegetables, fruits, dried fruits) to foreign markets.
The members of the delegation explored the possibility of long-term storage and transhipment of cargo through the Turkmenbashi seaport during the visit to the coastal city. Haji Nooruddin Azizi said Afghanistan views the Lapis Lazuli corridor that runs through the territory of Turkmenistan as one of the priority international logistics corridors.
In early March, Ashgabat hosted a commodity exhibition of Afghanistan that attracted ordinary visitors and representatives of the business community of Turkmenistan willing to expand trade and economic partnerships with Afghanistan.
Over 230 Afghan companies, representing various sectors of Afghanistan’s economy — from agriculture to textile production, took part in the exhibition. The Turkmen market is completely untapped for many of them, and they are seeking to establish long-term partnerships with the business community of the neighbouring state.
The National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited the exhibition and highly evaluated the range of commodities on display. He met with the heads of the Afghan delegation to discuss aspects of cooperation in key areas, including energy, industry, construction and transport.
Women entrepreneurs from Turkmenistan and Afghanistan held a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan.
On March 5, the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan held on-site trading that became an important event promoting Turkmenistan-Afghanistan economic partnerships. More than 70 contracts totally worth over $107 million and 33 million manats were concluded with Afghan partners.
Water management cooperation occupies a special place in Turkmenistan-Afghanistan relations. This issue was under discussion during the meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries. Speaking at the business forum, the head of the Afghan delegation said Kabul will consider the interests of Turkmenistan when using transboundary water resources and building facilities.
Thus, the recent visits of the Afghan delegations to Turkmenistan were an important step to strengthen multi-vector cooperation that received a new impetus to develop.
