The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, during an official visit to France on May 5, discussed promising areas of bilateral cooperation with President Emmanuel Macron, TDH reports.

Highlighting France's interest in expanding relations with Turkmenistan as a strategic partner, Emmanuel Macron noted the high assessment of the peaceful foreign policy pursued by the neutral state by the European community.

During the exchange of views on key issues on the international agenda, Hero-Arkadag emphasized that Turkmenistan relies on its neutral legal status in its international activities. In this regard, it was emphasized that Turkmenistan builds relations with neighboring states in the region based on national interests and the principles of equality, mutual respect and good neighborliness. As Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted, one of the priority areas of Turkmenistan's foreign policy is the development and strengthening of cooperation with European countries, among which France occupies a special place. Turkmenistan actively participates in partnership formats with the European Union, including the Central Asia-EU platform.

In this regard, the importance of the First Summit held in April in this format was emphasized, at which the demand for interregional cooperation on issues such as peace, security and stability was emphasized.

- Considering the availability of modern transport infrastructure in Turkmenistan, the prospect of further development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor using the potential of the International Sea Port of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian coast is of particular interest to us, - the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty said.

Noting the wide opportunities that both countries have for bringing bilateral relations in the trade and economic sphere to a qualitatively new level, the interlocutors emphasized the need for more active use of the impressive potential.

The oil and gas complex, satellite communications technologies, transport, construction, water resources, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and agriculture were identified as promising areas of Turkmen-French partnership. Following the talks, a package of bilateral documents was signed. These include: the Declaration on Cooperation in Sustainable Urban Development between the Governments of Turkmenistan and France; the Framework Agreement between the «Turkmenaragatnashyk» Agency of the Transport and Communications Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan and Thales Alenia Space France on equipping the national telecommunications satellite TürkmenÄlem 52oe-2; the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Concern «Turkmengas» and Kayrros SAS (France); the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Concern «Turkmengas» and SUEZ International on cooperation in the gas industry of Turkmenistan, and other documents.