President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed the government to intensify cooperation with the European Union and the United States in the field of energy, transport and business.

Speaking about the priorities of international cooperation at the government meeting last Friday, the head of state made a special emphasis on expanding partnerships with the European Union. Among them is the maintenance of peace and security in Central Asia and the region, the use of transport, environmental and water resources.

The President also ordered to work on more active involvement of the European Union in energy cooperation.

Stressing that a few weeks ago the next Action Program of the Government of Turkmenistan and the OSCE for 2021 was approved, including 68 promising projects, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate the implementation of this document, as well as, during 2021, together with the OSCE structures, to strengthen work on issues of security, transport, climate change.

The President also noted that one of the important trade, economic and foreign policy partners of Turkmenistan is the United States, with which interaction is carried out in the field of regional security, as well as in other areas.

In this regard, the Turkmen leader stressed that in cooperation with the United States, great importance is attached to the Turkmen-American Business Council, which over 12 years of work has become an effective tool for establishing, developing and strengthening bilateral relations.

In the future, the activities of this structure should be given a new impetus to increase and diversify mutual trade, implement large joint projects, the head of state said.

The President also noted the importance of developing cooperation with the countries of the Near and Middle East, the African continent, and Latin America.

-  We look at the countries of the Near and Middle East as promising partners in the implementation of major plans in the field of economy, trade, investment, transport,” Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.

In this regard, the President stated that Turkmen diplomacy should actively act together with partners in the implementation of the Ashgabat Agreement on the creation of an international transport and transit corridor, signed between the governments of Iran, Oman, Qatar, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Relying on its neutral legal status, Turkmenistan will also continue mutually beneficial cooperation with regional interstate associations - the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Islamic Cooperation Organization and the Economic Cooperation Organization, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.