President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Chairman of the Executive Committee – the Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States Sergey Lebedev who came to Turkmen capital. Greeting Turkmen leader, the guest has expressed gratitude for active support of development of cooperation in the CIS space, which meet the goals of common prosperity. At the same time, active position and initiative approach of Turkmenistan to strengthening of economic and humanitarian relations under the CIS was highlighted. In the last years, our country was a place of important meetings and forums under the CIS aegis, which were distinguished by high organizational level. Number of important events including the session of the Council of the head of the Governments of the CIS, which had very good result, has been held under the chairing of Turkmenistan this year. Having expressed gratitude for good words, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted that our country is always open for friend and partners. Beign committed to traditional dialog in the Commonwealth format, Turkmenistan tries to support comprehensively to the strengthening of historical friendship and goodwill relations, which united the nations of the CIS countries. Being a chairing country of the CIS this year, our country approach the fulfilment of this mission with full responsibility standing for activation of versatile cooperation. Continuing the meeting, the Head of the State and his guest shared the views on priority subjects of the partnership under the CIS, having noted the presence of wide opportunities for beneficial cooperation including in such current directions as trade and economic sphere, transport and communications, energy, advanced technologies and business contacts. In the context, the agenda of the session of the CIS Economic Council, which is planned to be held in Ashgabat on September 13, raised interested discussion of the sides. It has been mentioned that the draft Declaration on strategic economic cooperation between the states of the Commonwealth, which was initiated by the President of Turkmenistan, would be discussed at the session. The adoption of this document on the levl of the heads of the state in October this year will definitely support the improvement of traditional interstate relations and development of wide and efficient partnership in the CIS format, the guest highlighted. At the same time, it was mentioned that humanitarian sphere is a reliable connecting link of the CIS countries and nations. XIV Forum of art and cultural personnel of the CIS, which was held in Turkmen capital last May, supported the intensification of beneficial contacts in educational, scientific and cultural spheres. Subjects of preparation to coming session of the Council of the Heads of the CIS countries as well as forestalling session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CIS have been highlighted during the meeting. The Chairman of the Executive Committee – the Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States informed that all relative work in this direction is carried out on high level with support of Turkmen side. Having given high appraisal to the chairing of Turkmenistan in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Sergey Lebedev expressed the gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for excellent organization of all events. In the end of the meeting, the President of Turkmenistan and the Chairman of the Executive Committee – the Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States expressed the confidence that realization of available versatile potential of cooperation would serve to the strengthening of friendship and efficient partnership between the CIS countries.