Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan reaffirm strategic nature of bilateral partnership
On August 25, a telephone conversation took place between the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Warmly greeting each other, Hero-Arkadag and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted with satisfaction the high level of relations between the two countries at the present stage. First of all, the National Leader of the Turkmen People expressed gratitude to the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his huge contribution to the development of traditionally friendly, fraternal, and good-neighborly ties between the peoples of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan. On behalf of the President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and on his own behalf, he sincerely congratulated him on an important political event—the first elections to the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan. «In Turkmenistan, the results of these elections are viewed as a wise decision and a expression of solidarity by the people of Kazakhstan, your personal political victory, and the result of successfully conducted reforms under your leadership in the political, economic, and social life of the state», said Hero-Arkadag. At the same time, confidence was expressed that the people of the fraternal country, based on their ancient and rich historical heritage, cultural, and spiritual values, will continue to confidently follow the path of creation and development. In turn, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan thanked the National Leader of the Turkmen People for the congratulations and kind words, noting that he highly appreciates Turkmenistan's support and personal attention of Hero-Arkadag to an important historical event for Kazakhstan—the parliamentary elections. The Kazakh leader stressed that the congratulations of Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov are evidence of genuine friendship and good-neighborliness between the two fraternal peoples, expressing special gratitude to the observers from Turkmenistan for the electoral process. In particular, it was noted that Turkmen observers worked well during the preparation and conduct of the elections to the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan and objectively assessed their results, which fully comply with national legislation and international standards. At the same time, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan expressed confidence that the legislative bodies of both countries will continue to maintain close interaction, contributing to the strengthening of Kazakh-Turkmen ties. Thanking for the kind words, the National Leader of the Turkmen People noted that relations between the two peoples over many centuries have developed on the principles of friendship, brotherhood, good-neighborliness, and mutual respect, which serve as a solid foundation for the development of interstate ties in the modern period and for the long term. Today, Turkmen-Kazakh cooperation covers a wide range of interaction in political-diplomatic, trade-economic, cultural-humanitarian, and other spheres. Partnership mechanisms—such as the intergovernmental commission, specialized working groups, and other coordination structures—are successfully functioning in each direction, ensuring the effective implementation of the agreements reached. Special emphasis was placed on the fact that the main factor in building cooperation potential is the open, trusting, constructive, and friendly dialogue established at the highest state level. In this context, the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan noted that meetings of the leaders of the two countries impart powerful new impulses to expanding interstate relations, contributing to the deepening of mutual understanding, the development of strategic decisions, and the definition of priorities for joint activities. As was emphasized, our countries cooperate closely in the international political arena, actively participating in the implementation of large-scale, long-term strategies and programs at global and regional levels. In this regard, Hero-Arkadag thanked the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for Kazakhstan's firm and unwavering support of Turkmenistan's neutral foreign policy course and the country's initiatives proposed in the United Nations and other authoritative international organizations. Touching upon bilateral interaction, the Kazakh leader noted that relations are dynamically developing in the spirit of strategic cooperation. In this context, it was emphasized that the results of the state visit of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the Republic of Kazakhstan in November last year gave great momentum to relations between the two countries. Speaking about contacts at the highest state level, which are regular in nature, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the significance of the meeting with the National Leader of the Turkmen People within the framework of the Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality, held in December last year in the Turkmen capital. Emphasizing the high significance of the participation of the heads of two states in multilateral forums held in both countries, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev once again stressed that he looks forward with great respect to the participation of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the Aqaba Process meeting on «Security in the Field of Artificial Intelligence», which will take place in early November this year in Astana. Noting the extensive joint work to strengthen regional cooperation, the National Leader of the Turkmen People recorded with satisfaction the similarity or alignment of the positions of both states in this direction. Hero-Arkadag expressed gratitude to the leader of the neighboring country for supporting Turkmenistan's proposals to hold three important Summits in the National Tourist Zone «Awaza» from October 7 to 9 of this year—specifically, the meeting of the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Caspian Ecological Summit—as well as for confirming his personal participation in these forums. As the National Leader of the Turkmen People noted, great importance is attached to the upcoming visit of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Turkmenistan. Reaffirming his participation in the three important Summits to be held in October this year in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, the head of Kazakhstan thanked Hero-Arkadag for Turkmenistan's accession to the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighborliness, and Cooperation for the Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century. Emphasizing the commonality of cultural and spiritual values of the Kazakh and Turkmen peoples, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the beauty, grace, and uniqueness of the Akhalteke horse breed, which is a great national asset of Turkmenistan. Taking this opportunity, Hero-Arkadag reaffirmed Turkmenistan's readiness and commitment to strengthening friendship and comprehensive cooperation with the Republic of Kazakhstan, wishing the head of the friendly country good health, longevity, and success in state activities, and wishing the fraternal Kazakh people peace, happiness, well-being, and prosperity. At the conclusion of the telephone conversation, the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed confidence that traditionally friendly Turkmen-Kazakh relations will continue to develop successfully, and conveyed wishes of well-being and prosperity to the fraternal peoples of both countries.