Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, during a working visit to the Republic of Tajikistan on October 9, participated in the second Central Asia-Russia Summit, TDH reports.

As Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted in his speech, Turkmenistan considers strengthening and energizing economic ties between Central Asia and Russia a priority for cooperation in this format. In recent years, a number of significant projects have been launched with the participation of our countries.

The head of Turkmenistan emphasized that the transport component is particularly important today. Turkmenistan sees great potential in the development of an international North-South transport corridor along the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. This corridor is valuable in itself and brings significant benefits to all participants. At the same time, it should be viewed as part of a larger Eurasian transport project, the President continued.

Highlighting the importance of the Caspian transport and logistics hub for establishing direct transport links between Central Asian countries and Russia via the Caspian Sea, the head of state confirmed Turkmenistan's readiness to engage in substantive discussions on using the Turkmenbashi International Seaport for these purposes.

Underscoring the importance of energy partnership, Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that special attention is being paid to the electric power sector. In this context, the head of Turkmenistan proposed considering aligning interests in electricity supplies within the Summit participating states, as well as to neighboring countries and regions, primarily in the southern region.

"We also expect closer cooperation in the use of renewable energy. I am confident that we have much to offer each other based on our existing shared experience, new competencies, and scientific and technological achievements," the President of Turkmenistan said.

Turkmenistan supports accelerating and elaborating partnerships in the innovation sector, the head of state continued, emphasizing the importance of this aspect in terms of domestic development and international competition. Praising Russia's strategic commitment to broad international cooperation in technology and innovation, Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that, in this context, great prospects for cooperation are also visible in the six-party format.

"For Turkmenistan, innovation acceleration is currently one of the most powerful drivers of national economic and social development," the head of state said. "We would like to begin practical cooperation, attracting, on a mutually beneficial basis, the innovative potential of our partners to our industrial sector, the agro-industrial complex, urban development, and the creation of smart cities."

Maintaining the ecological balance is another area in which the states of Central Asia and Russia will need to jointly address numerous challenges, the President of Turkmenistan noted. These include the shallowing of the Caspian Sea, saving the Aral Sea, and a range of issues related to adaptation measures in industry and agriculture, atmospheric emissions, and others.

The head of Turkmenistan emphasized the importance of developing and strengthening humanitarian, educational, and scientific ties between Central Asia and Russia. They strengthen our relations, create a solid foundation for the future, and serve a tremendous educational function, fostering mutual respect and sympathy among the peoples of our countries, including our youth, and a desire for mutual understanding. These are positive trends, the manifestation of which we see and must support and encourage, the President noted.

Concluding his speech, Serdar Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan's readiness for cooperation and his conviction in the importance, necessity, and great potential of the "Central Asia–Russia" format of interaction.

The President of Turkmenistan's working visit to Tajikistan continues.