Valdis Zatlers in Turkmenistan.

The official welcome ceremony will be followed by a discussion between Zatlers and the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow and a meeting of both countries' delegations, during which several bilateral agreements will be signed.

Later in the day Zatlers will lay wreaths at the Monument to the Victims of the 1948 Ashgabat Earthquake and the Turkmenistan Independence Monument, and visit Ashgabat Mosque.

The aim of the visit is to launch economic and political dialog between both countries and to develop cooperation in history research. The visit will also promote closer cooperation of the European Union with Turkmenistan and the Central Asian region.

"The crucial factors for developing a dialog [between countries] are mutual respect, understanding of national traditions and regular information exchange," the president believes. It is the first time that the president of Latvia pays a state visit to Turkmenistan. No Turkmen presidents have visited Latvia neither on a state nor on an official visit.

During the visit, Zatlers will meet with the president and top officials of Turkmenistan to discuss the current political events, the development of the region and economic cooperation. The visit is also planned to serve as a launching pad for the development of cooperation between Latvian and Turkmen entrepreneurs, with this purpose the president will open an international business forum in Ashgabat.

During the visit Zatlers plans to express Latvia's, as a EU member country, support for a closer economic dialog and a stronger presence in Turkmenistan and the Central Asian region in general, because in the long term Turkmenistan and Central Asia could become a key alternative energy supplier to Europe.

During the visit a declaration on further cooperation between Latvia and Turkmenistan will be signed. Bilateral agreements will be signed on cooperation in such sectors as industry, science, technologies, innovations, investment policy, transport, transit, tourism, energy, forestry and others.

An intergovernmental convention on cooperation in aviation between Latvia and Turkmenistan will also be signed, as well as a cooperation protocol between the foreign ministries of Latvia and Turkmenistan.

During the visit the president will also visit Turkmenistan National Culture Center's Library.

During the Turkmenistan visit, Zatlers and the first lady will visit the capital of Turkmenistan Ashgabat and the port city of Turkmenbashi, where Zatlers will meet the mayor of the city and become acquainted with the work of the city's oil refinery.

"It is a common for us, Europeans, to develop political and economical dialog with Central Asia, which is potentially a very important partner, taking in consideration our search for alternative energy sources and suppliers. We have to find a way to negotiate with Central Asian countries and we must lay foundation for further cooperation with the purpose to continue promoting the common EU values," the president said, pointing out that because of this, Latvia, individually as well as within the framework of the EU, has to strengthen its presence in the Central Asia region.

During the visit, the president is accompanied by several entrepreneurs representing various sectors of the Latvian economy, as well as several ministers.