President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held an informal meeting with Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, El.kz reports via Aqorda.
The Head of State thanked Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for visiting Turkestan, the spiritual capital of Kazakhstan, a city of sacred importance for all Turkic peoples.
It is gratifying that cooperation between our states is developing successfully. The plans include strategically important projects in the gas industry, as well as in the transport and logistics sector. We keep this work under control, since the further qualitative development of economic cooperation between our countries depends on its results," the President said.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the beginning of the International Year of Peace and Trust, stressing that this initiative, supported by the UN, testifies to the high international reputation of Turkmenistan.
The Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty expressed gratitude for the hospitality and called Kazakhstan one of the main strategic partners of Turkmenistan.
"Our bilateral relations in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres have good prospects. We are grateful to you for supporting Turkmenistan's initiative within the UN to proclaim the International Year of Peace and Trust," Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.
During the meeting, the prospects for further strengthening the multifaceted strategic partnership across the entire spectrum of bilateral relations were discussed.
The sides stressed the need to search for new growth points and take systemic measures to increase trade to $1 billion in the coming years.
Particular attention was paid to expanding partnership in the gas industry, in particular, Kazakhstan's participation at the Galkynysh gas field together with foreign partners.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the significant potential of the project for the construction of the Turgundi—Herat—Kandahar—Spin Buldak railway, the successful implementation of which will ensure the diversification of transport routes and the expansion of export markets.
According to him, the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway and the Turkmenbashi-Garabogaz-Kazakhstan border highway under construction also play a key role in the development of transit potential in the North-South direction.
In addition, the meeting participants considered issues of cooperation in the fields of education and digitalization.
The Kazakh side expressed its readiness to provide comprehensive assistance to Turkmenistan in the digitalization of public services, as well as in improving the skills of IT specialists.