Tbilisi (GBC) - The main focus of the one-on-one and expanded format meetings held on Friday between Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, who is on his first state visit to Georgia, was on strengthening economic, transport and logistics ties between the two countries and developing the Middle Corridor.
During the visit, the parties signed a joint statement, as well as agreements and memorandums of understanding on cooperation in various fields.
The Middle Corridor and Transport and Logistics Potential
The meeting between the leaders focused on the importance of developing the Trans-Caspian international transport route - the Middle Corridor - and the need to attract additional cargo flows in this direction.
According to the head of the Georgian government, Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia is actively following the ongoing infrastructure and logistics projects in Turkmenistan, which have created a solid foundation for expanding regional ties.
“Central Asia is a particularly interesting region for Georgia. In this context, we consider Turkmenistan as a reliable partner and friendly state. The relations established between our countries are based on many years of friendship and mutual respect,” Irakli Kobakhidze said.
Increasing trade turnover and business forum
Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Georgia is one of Turkmenistan’s main economic partners in the region and the country highly appreciates Tbilisi’s constructive position in the international arena.
According to him, the Turkmenistan-Georgia business forum held within the framework of the visit showed that there is great potential for increasing bilateral trade volumes and expanding product exchanges:
- Political and diplomatic ties: The parties agreed to strengthen diplomatic efforts to ensure long-term partnership.
- International formats: Cooperation with global organizations is expanding, especially within the framework of the United Nations (UN).
- Diversification: The Turkmen side expresses its readiness to diversify economic ties with Georgian business.
“We agreed to expand political relations, diplomatic efforts so that our ties can continue in the long term. We attach special importance to business relations and we want to diversify our economic ties,” Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted.
Support for Sovereignty and Humanitarian Partnership
At the briefing, the Georgian Prime Minister thanked the Turkmen authorities for their firm support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
In addition to economic and transit directions, the leaders discussed better utilization of the potential in the tourism sector, stimulation of bilateral tourist flows, deepening people-to-people ties, and cooperation in the fields of education and culture.
For information, this is the second state visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Georgia. The first such visit took place in 2015, when former President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow visited the country.
