Russia supports the peaceful policy of Turkmenistan, which proclaimed its neutrality 25 years ago, considers the experience of a neutral republic in overcoming existing challenges in demand. This was stated by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the eve of the Day of Neutrality of Turkmenistan, which is celebrated in the country on December 12, Interfax reports.

 "Today, Turkmenistan is on the verge of a significant event in its history - the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of neutrality. From the very beginning of this path, when the historic resolution of the UN General Assembly was adopted in 1995, Russia has supported friendly Turkmenistan in its aspiration to conduct a peaceful, aimed at  development of constructive cooperation and foreign policy", - Lavrov said in an article for the journal Foreign Policy and Diplomacy of Turkmenistan. On Friday, the article was published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

 “Every day the world is faced with unprecedented challenges, which can only be answered by joint efforts. In these conditions, the experience of neutral Turkmenistan in establishing a peaceful dialogue and building trust between representatives of different peoples, religions and cultures is becoming more and more in demand. One of the actual examples of such a positive agenda is  The UN proclamation of 2021, initiated by Ashgabat, is the International Year of Peace and Trust", - the Russian Foreign Minister mentioned.

 In addition, Lavrov noted the fruitful cooperation between the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan within the CIS and noted that "Ashgabat is making a significant contribution to effective five-sided cooperation in the Caspian region."

 The Russian diplomat added that in Ashgabat in 2021, "it is planned to organize the sixth meeting of the leaders of the Caspian countries, and we, in turn, took over from our Turkmen friends the baton of the Caspian Economic Forum, another unique mechanism of multilateral cooperation that successfully started in Turkmenistan in 2019 year ".

 The Russian Foreign Minister also announced the successful development of Russian-Turkmen strategic partnership relations.  "To ensure effective bilateral cooperation, a stable legal framework has been formed of more than 100 interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements. Consolidation of Russian-Turkmen relations is facilitated by regular political dialogue at the highest and high levels", - Lavrov said.

 "The level and intensity of political and economic contacts brings practical benefits: since 2019, it has been possible to reverse the negative trend in bilateral trade and reach its significant growth - by almost 70%. Even the crisis phenomena in the global economy, caused by the global economy, could not prevent the positive dynamics of trade turnover.  This year, we observe a twofold increase to $ 736 million. At the same time, importantly, the indicators of both Russian exports to Turkmenistan and imports of Turkmen goods and services to Russia are growing", - the Russian Foreign Minister writes.

 "Cooperation in the energy sector has reached a qualitatively new level: in April 2019, Gazprom resumed purchases of Turkmen natural gas, Russian companies are taking part in the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India cross-border gas pipeline", - Lavrov added.

 "We are not going to stop at what we have achieved: economic ties will continue to expand and deepen", - the Russian minister said.

 "We intend to continue, together with our Turkmen friends, to do everything to bring the partnership to new frontiers for the benefit of our citizens in the name of peace and sustainable development in the Central Asian region. I am convinced that there are all the opportunities for this, and most importantly, mutual spirit",  - Lavrov added.