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Andris Berzins and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. Ashgabat, 14.05.2013. Photo: president.lv

The visit by the Turkmen president was decisive for the bilateral relations to move on to a higher partnership level, identifying new directions for cooperation and enhancing the legal framework, the presidents agreed.

During the meeting, held in the spirit of friendship and mutual understanding, the presidents exchanged opinions on the most important matters in bilateral relations and on the international agenda, as President Chancery's communications officer Elvira Stepanova told LETA.

Addressing the development of mutual relations in the economy sector, the presidents noted that the most prospective areas were transportation and communications, pharmaceutics and medical equipment, energy, finance and banking sector, construction, textile industry, agriculture and processing industry. They also noted the necessity of devoting practical efforts to the stimulation of economic contacts in the said areas.

The presidents agreed to consistently facilitate the strengthening of the transit and transport potential of Latvia and Turkmenistan, the development of transport infrastructure, stimulate the creation of international transport corridors that ensure cargo transportation between Europe and Asia with an active use of the possibilities of Caspian and Baltic Sea ports.

Berzins and Berdimuhamedow expressed the intention to develop cooperation within the framework of cargo transportation by "Baltika-Tranzit" and ZUBR container trains, also noting the vast potential of bilateral cooperation in the field of the development of Turkmenbashi Port, ship building, and transport and logistics sector as a whole.

The presidents agreed to take measures to strengthen the legal framework for cooperation in the area of international road transport.

While underlining the importance of the development of economic links, the presidents recognized the necessity of increasing the role of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in dealing with the current tasks of interaction and the development, on a mutually advantageous basis, of industrial, economic, scientific and technological contacts.

The heads of states declared confidence in the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter, noted the central role in international affairs by the United Nations and its Security Council, as well as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other international organizations. Latvia and Turkmenistan will develop cooperation with the aim of ensuring peace and stability, international conflict prevention, a peaceful settlement of disputes, and response to contemporary challenges and threats. The presidents made note of the positive contribution by both countries to ensuring stability and development of Afghanistan.

Berzins and Berdimuhamedow rated positively the course of implementation of the European Union Strategy for the Central Asian region and noted its role in supporting a sustainable socio-economic development and security of countries in the Central Asian region. They also noted the importance of a further enhancement of relations between the EU and Turkmenistan. Latvia has advanced the strengthening of cooperation between the EU and Central Asia as one of foreign policy priorities during its Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2015.

During the meeting, the presidents signed a Latvia-Turkmen intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in combating terrorism, organized crime and illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, as well as other crime.

They also expressed intention to make effort to expand contacts in the field of culture, education, health care, tourism and sports by organizing meetings of representatives from academic and civic circles and of cultural workers.

The heads of states agreed to give support for the development of partnership contacts between higher education establishments, including the organization of training and professional development of personnel for the public institutions of both countries. To this end, the presidents signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of education.

The heads of states regarded the development of international cooperation in sports as a most important means for strengthening friendship and understanding between the people of the two countries. On the eve of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat in 2017, both sides will stimulate mutual participation of athletes from their national teams in competitions held in the territories of both countries.

Both countries will facilitate the development of mutually advantageous tourism activity, support the establishment and advancement of business contacts between organizations operating in the tourism and guided tour sector, assist experience sharing regarding the development of national tourist zones.

Berzins expressed his gratitude to Berdimuhamedov for the warm welcome and invited him to pay an official visit to Latvia at the time of his convenience. The dates of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.