President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Sergey Lebedev, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Independent States, who had arrived in the country to attend the CIS Heads of State Council meeting, held at the Avaza National Tourist Zone.
Sergey Lebedev stressed that the Commonwealth highly valued Turkmenistan’s support for the development of the cooperation and multifaceted dialogue within the CIS. In this regard, it was noted that Turkmenistan played an active role and took the initiative in strengthening economic and humanitarian ties across the Commonwealth. The CIS Secretary-General took the opportunity to convey warm greetings to the Hero-Arkadag and noted the significant contribution made by the Turkmenistan National Leader to expanding the traditional interaction among the CIS member states.
Welcoming his guest, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov wished a success to the forthcoming meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council. He noted that it would provide a platform for exchanging views on a wide range of issues of the international agenda and expressed confidence that its outcomes would make a significant contribution to the further development of the trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation within the CIS.
The Commonwealth of Independent States partnership is an important area of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy. As the CIS associate member, Turkmenistan advocates a more effective cooperation across the Commonwealth, which has a considerable potential across a wide range of areas.
Turkmenistan actively participates in the CIS summits, meetings and other events, cooperates extensively in the fields of the economy, trade, culture and sports, and supports a further coordination of efforts in the transport and energy spheres.
During the chairmanship of Turkmenistan (in Russian) in the Commonwealth this year, the country hosted a number of important events, including the meeting of the CIS Heads of Government Council, the 84th meeting of the CIS Council for Railway Transport, meetings of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers and the CIS Council for Cultural Cooperation.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan supported stronger direct contacts in culture, arts and science. He added that a particular attention had been paid to the cultural and humanitarian cooperation during his country’s chairmanship in the CIS this year.
In this regard, the events being held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone these days include a meeting of the heads of state and public television and radio broadcasting organizations of the CIS, an award ceremony for the winners of the Interstate Television Film Competition “Flight of the Steed: Strength and Grace”, the Festival of National Dishes, and the CIS member states exhibition. These events are intended to show the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Commonwealth countries and strengthen their humanitarian ties.
The Head of State expressed confidence that a further expansion of cultural and humanitarian contacts and the regular organization of joint festivals and Days of Culture and Cinema would help deepen the traditional ties of friendship and mutual respect among the peoples of our countries. Turkmenistan intends to achieve constructive results that will make a significant contribution to strengthening the CIS member states friendship and good-neighbourly relations.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed his gratitude to the entire staff of the CIS Executive Committee and Sergey Lebedev in particular, for their joint work and coordinating efforts to organize the forthcoming Commonwealth Summit.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Head of State and the CIS Secretary-General exchanged good wishes and expressed confidence that the multilateral cooperation across the CIS would continue to develop successfully.