President Serdar Berdimuhamedov left for a working visit to the Russian Federation on December 25 to take part in the informal CIS Heads of State Summit, traditionally held on the eve of the New Year, TDH reports.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov was met by officials at Pulkovo International Airport in St. Petersburg.

In the afternoon, the head of Turkmenistan proceeded to the Ice Palace of the Igora Winter Sports Complex. The Ice Palace, which is part of its infrastructure, includes an ice arena, a conference area and other facilities intended for sports and cultural leisure.

In the foyer of the Ice Palace, Serdar Berdimuhamedov was warmly welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The participants of the summit were invited to the Olympic Hall of the Ice Palace, where the informal CIS Summit was held.

During the Summit, the results of the Commonwealth's activities for 2024 were analyzed, and priority areas of cooperation and tasks for the coming period were identified. At the same time, positive indicators of economic partnership were noted. The subject of an interested exchange of opinions also became topical issues of the regional and global agenda.

As noted, all these years, the Commonwealth countries have been steadily following the course of equal mutually beneficial cooperation based on constant goodwill, mutual respect and trust.

The Summit became another confirmation of the common desire of the CIS states to bring fruitful cooperation to a new level that meets modern realities and the existing impressive potential.

The priority area of partnership in the Commonwealth is the trade and economic sphere. Turkmenistan pays great attention to deepening and diversifying productive ties in this area. This is confirmed by the Declaration on Strategic Economic Cooperation of the CIS Member States, adopted following the CIS Summit held in Ashgabat in October 2019.

Currently, the key tasks include increasing mutual trade, increasing the volume of trade, developing long-term ties in the industrial sector, digital transformation, and stimulating investment and business activity.

The humanitarian sphere has been and remains an important area of interaction in the CIS format. The cultural interconnection and spiritual closeness of the peoples of our countries, centuries-old common history are the solid foundation on which integration processes are built within the Commonwealth.

President Vladimir Putin invited the heads of state of the CIS to take part in the upcoming celebrations in Moscow in 2025 on the occasion of a significant anniversary – the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. As was emphasized, during the harsh war years, our peoples demonstrated unparalleled heroism and courage at the front and in the rear, and the Commonwealth countries sacredly honor this immortal feat.

Taking this opportunity, the head of the Russian Federation also conveyed to all citizens of the CIS countries his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the upcoming New Year.

An informal dinner was given in honor of the distinguished guests on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation.

Upon completion of the program of the working visit to the Russian Federation, the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov proceeded to the Pulkovo International Airport in St. Petersburg, from where he departed for his homeland.