Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan and Turkmenistan peoples have much in common

On April 26, at his meeting with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that peoples of Turmenistan and Tatarstan, as one of the Russian regions, have deep spiritual and cultural ties, long-term trade, economic and scientific relationship.

To the point, a bilateral meeting between Rustam Minnikhanov and Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov was held today in the morning. Later on the same day, an enlarged meeting took place.

Opening the meeting, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov cordially welcomed Rustam Minnikhanov and Tatarstan delegation.

"Turkmenistan and Tatarstan have partnership relations. We have established good relationships with many regions and constituent entities of the Russian Federation, but Tatarstan takes a special place," President of Turkmenistan said.

He said that at present the parties are interested in cooperation in such areas as energy and petrochemicals. The Turkmen side is also interested in expanding cooperation in supply of products and services of OAO "KAMAZ", OAO "Tatneft", OAO "Kazan Helicopter Plant" to Turkmenistan.

According to President of Turkmenistan, the sphere of cultural and humanitarian cooperation is very important. He expressed his gratitude to Tatarstan leadership for the opportunity given to Turkmen students to study at Tatarstan Universities. Currently, more than 900 students from Turkmenistan are studying in the republic.

Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov  called the Tatarstan's experience of holding Summer Universiade in Kazan unique and said that Ashkhabad will host the fifth Asian Games in 2017.

"We always watch with great interest events that are held in Turkmenistan and enjoy achievements and successes of the Turkmen people. Your country has achieved significant progress in social and economic development over the last years," Rustam Minnikhanov said, in his turn.

According to Tatarstan President, there are good opportunities for expanding cooperation between Turkmenistan and Tatarstan in various areas of economy, particularly in the fields of engineering, aviation, shipbuilding and petrochemistry.

Rustam Minnikhanov addressed Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov with a request to support a joint project of GMS Group and the Ministry of Water Resources of Turkmenistan on supply of equipment and "turnkey" pumping stations to Akhal and Mary provinces, as well as a project on expanding cooperation with GK "Turkmengaz" and GK "Turkmenneft."

Tatarstan President noted the importance of maintaining contacts in the field of education and science. Thus, currently Kazan Technological University (KNITU) with the support of the Russian Government is considering a possibility of opening a representative office in Ashkhabad. "We kindly ask you to support this project, which will be another successful area of our cooperation," Tatarstan President said.

Rustam Minnikhanov also noted achievements of Turkmen athletes who represented their country on a high level at the World Student Games in Kazan in July 2013.

According to Tatarstan President, cooperation in the field of culture is of great importance. These days Turkmenistan delegation is taking part in solemn events dedicated to opening of the year “Kazan – the capital of Turkic world”.

At the end of the meeting, Tatarstan President made a proposal to hold a meeting of Tatarstan-Turkmen working group on trade-economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation in Kazan.

Later, in his interview with journalists, Rustam Minnikhanov called projects of KAMAZ plant on equipping special vehicles based on heavy trucks, as well as outfitting passenger transport with gas engine fuel systems one of the prospective areas of cooperation between Tatarstan and Turkmenistan. Rustam Minnikhanov called the decision to create gas-chemical cluster in Turkmenistan a global project.

A ceremony of sighing bilateral documents between Tatarstan and Turkmenistan was held after the enlarged meeting.

An agreement on twinning, strengthening of friendly relations and cooperation was signed between Almetyevsk and Balkanabad. An agreement on cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tatarstan and Turkmenistan was signed by Chairman of Tatarstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shamil Ageev and Chairman of Turkmenistan ChamberCommerce and Industry of Dovran Orazmyradov.