MEETING OF THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTION OF TURKMENISTAN WITH THE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF JAPAN TO TURKMENISTAN

On October 17, 2020, the Minister of Industry and Construction Production of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Turkmenistan Mr. Katsumata Takahiko.

During the meeting, the sides noted the high level of the Turkmen-Japanese relations based on the principles of friendship, trust and mutual respect. It was emphasized that in recent years, bilateral relations in the political, trade-economic, cultural and humanitarian fields have reached a qualitatively new level. The parties noted the importance of high-level contacts in promoting interstate relations. In this regard, the importance of the visits of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Japan was emphasized, which contributed to the deepening of all-round cooperation.

Gratitude was expressed to the Japanese side for maintaining the foreign and domestic policy of Turkmenistan, its independence and the status of a neutral state. The parties noted with satisfaction that Turkmenistan and Japan are successfully cooperating within the framework of international organizations, primarily the UN. Inter-parliamentary cooperation has noticeably strengthened, which has become an important part of political interaction.

Besides that, the issues of strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation were discussed. In particular, the parties marked the efficiency of the meetings of the parliamentarians of the two countries within the framework of inter-parliamentary friendship group.    

The parties noted the high growth of economic partnership between Turkmenistan and Japan. Japanese companies make a significant contribution to the development of key sectors of the economy of Turkmenistan, such as the successfully implemented projects for the construction of such enterprises as a plant for the production of urea in the city of Mary, a gas chemical complex in the village of Kiyanly, a workshop for the production of sulfuric acid in the city of Turkmenabat, a plant for the production of urea in the city of Karabogaz. It was noted that the new plant for the production of gasoline from natural gas (GTG) in the Akhal velayat of Turkmenistan, which has no analogue in the world, has become another visible result of systematic work.

The parties noted with satisfaction the progress of projects in a number of other areas, including the production of phosphate fertilizers, purchases of Japanese agricultural machinery, etc. Negotiations with Japanese companies in the construction of energy and other facilities are ongoing. The possibilities of developing cooperation in the field of construction, including the specifics developed by Japanese specialists, are considered.

In turn, Ambassador Katsumata Takahiko expressed gratitude to the Turkmen side for the attention paid to the promotion of Turkmen-Japanese relations, including the creation of favorable investment conditions for the effective operation of foreign companies in Turkmenistan.

The parties also discussed the importance of cultural and humanitarian cooperation and exchanged views on its further development.