Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon at negotiations on Thursday agreed to give a qualitatively new impetus to interstate relations in various directions, TDH reports.

 The parties held negotiations in a one-on-one format and in an expanded composition of delegations.

 Having specified the key vectors of interstate interaction in the light of the requirements of the time and taking into account the priorities of the national economies of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, the leaders of the two countries agreed to give a qualitatively new impetus to interstate relations in various directions, the news agency notes.

 Particular emphasis was placed on the need to use the existing potential of the parties in trade relations in order to increase the volume of trade turnover. At the same time, the need to intensify the activities of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation and the Turkmen-Tajik Business Council was noted.

 Energy, transport and communications, industry, and agriculture were named among the main areas of bilateral cooperation.

 Environmental issues are highlighted separately.  In particular, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Emomali Rahmon spoke in favor of further strengthening and improving the activities of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), which is a key regional structure aimed at ensuring cooperation in improving the environmental and socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea region.

 In order to preserve and strengthen relations of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries, the readiness of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan to expand partnership in the fields of education, science, culture, healthcare, physical education and sports was confirmed.

 Current issues on the regional and global agenda of mutual interest were also the subject of detailed discussion.  In this context, an exchange of views took place on the possibilities of further interaction within large international and regional organizations, primarily the UN, to solve problems related to modern challenges and threats.

 At the end of the negotiations in an expanded format, a ceremony for signing bilateral documents took place.