TURKMEN-INDIAN POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS HAD BEEN HELD

On January 13, 2021, political consultations were held between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Republic of India at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the two countries in the format of a video conference.

 At the meeting, the Turkmen delegation was headed by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan V. Khadzhiev, and the Indian delegation was led by Secretary West, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Vikas Svarup.

During constructive negotiations, the diplomats exchanged views on the regional and international agendas, including the issues of Afghanistan, expressed the need to further intensify bilateral interaction, covering the widest range of areas of cooperation.

In this context, they noted a positive dialogue at the highest and high levels, emphasized the effectiveness of regular consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries, as well as mutual support for initiatives and initiatives within the framework of international platforms.

As is known, on October 15, 2020, the President of Turkmenistan had a telephone conversation with the President of the Republic of India, following which the heads of the two friendly countries agreed to comprehensively intensify mutually beneficial relations between Turkmenistan and India.

The fruitfulness of bilateral and multilateral cooperation within the framework of the India-Central Asia Dialogue and the India-CA Business Council, which are effective international platforms for exchanging views on important issues of regional development, as well as for discussing and implementing specific projects of a multifaceted general direction, was noted. .

During the substantive conversation, the diplomats also expressed the need to intensify the mutual dialogue within the framework of the Joint Intergovernmental Turkmen-Indian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. In this aspect, the long-term effective cooperation of public and private structures of Turkmenistan and India was emphasized, as well as the need to intensify bilateral meetings of Turkmen and Indian experts on cybersecurity and anti-terrorism issues and other areas of mutual interest.

 Among the priority joint projects, the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline was highlighted, which has noticeably intensified recently, and where the Indian side occupies a key position, both in terms of investment and in the field of successful implementation.

The Turkmen side, in turn, invited India to join the Investment Fund, which will be created in Turkmenistan for the development of the private sector.

The diplomats also emphasized the need for even greater cohesion in the search for new approaches for the successful continuation of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the post-pandemic period.

Within the framework of the current consultations, a constructive exchange of views on consular issues between the two countries took place, as well as other pressing issues of interaction were considered. In this aspect, the sphere of energy, information technology, transport and communication infrastructure, light industry, culture and tourism, science and education, as well as healthcare were identified as priority areas for mutually beneficial cooperation.

At the end of the meeting, the diplomats expressed hope for the further active development of the Turkmen-Indian relations.