On August 5, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov left for the Kyrgyz Republic on a state visit. An official arrival ceremony of the President of Turkmenistan was held at the Bishkek International Airport – “Manas-2”. At the ramp, the head of Turkmen state Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov was cordially welcomed by President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev. In the first-half of the day, the Turkmen leader proceeded to the “Ala-Archa” State Guest Residence of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to hold in the Elders Hall top-level bilateral talks in the one-to-one format. In the course of talks, which were held in the atmosphere of understanding and trust, Presidents Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and Almazbek Atambayev discussed a wide range of issues of Turkmen-Kyrgyz cooperation. Special consideration was given to the implementation progress of the earlier-reached bilateral agreements and potentialities for further development of mutually beneficial contacts in different fields. Welcoming availability of solid potential for productive partnership in the trade-economic sphere, the heads of Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan also spoke for stimulating the traditional interaction in the humanitarian field, which is based on the centuries-old historical and cultural commonality of the two fraternal peoples. During the one-to-one meeting, the parties also exchanged opinions on a number of topical issues of regional and international policy of mutual interest. President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov invited the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to pay an official visit to Turkmenistan whenever it would be convenient to him. The invitation was gratefully accepted. The timing of the visit will be negotiated via the diplomatic channels. Then, the talks continued in the enlarged format – in the Large Assembly Hall – with participation of the two countries’ official delegations. Having stressed great importance attached in Kyrgyzstan to the state visit of the head of Turkmenistan, President Almazbek Atambayev expressed confidence that the summit talks would be a new significant landmark in the interstate dialogue and considerable contribution to the Turkmen-Kyrgyz cooperation further promotion. In this connection, President Almazbek Atambayev noted with satisfaction the similarity of the sides’ views on all vital international and regional problems. Highlighting the significance of the Turkmen President’s decision to open the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Bishkek, President Almazbek Atambayev stated, in turn, that Kyrgyzstan would provide every condition for successful operation of the two countries’ diplomatic missions. Emphasizing the fact that 15 cooperation-favored documents were prepared to be signed by results of the talks, the Kyrgyz leader has underlined that in the course of the one-to-one meeting, the sides have discussed a broad range of priority issues of advancing partnership in different spheres. Regarding the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Kyrgyz Commission’s activity (its first meeting was held in Ashgabat this year’s spring) as very important, the head of Kyrgyzstan also spoke in favor of promoting the by-now practice of conducting the bilateral business forums and establishing of the Joint Business Council. President Almazbek Atambayev has also expressed sincere gratitude in respect of Turkmenistan for readiness to cooperate in the energy sector. Singling out the transport-communications and fuel-energy sectors among the priority areas of cooperation, the Kyrgyz leader has stressed that participation in construction of a new gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China is of great importance to his country. Being confident in the Turkmen-Kyrgyz relations further dynamic development, President Almazbek Atambayev extended gratitude to the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov of his initiative approach towards the issues of cooperation in the tourism industry. In this context, the significance was attached to the ready-for-signing Agreement for Cooperation between Balkan velayat (Turkmenistan) and Issyk-Kul Region (the Kyrgyz Republic). At the same time, the Kyrgyz leader spoke for all-round strengthening of the traditional cultural-humanitarian relations. This year’s Culture Days of Turkmenistan in Kyrgyzstan had significantly contributed to this. The Kyrgyz delegation, in turn, took part in Culture Week in Lebap velayat. Next year, Culture Days of the Kyrgyz Republic would be held in Turkmenistan, President Almazbek Atambayev said. Touching upon the bilateral cooperation in the international arena, the head of Kyrgyzstan stated the similarity or coincidence of the two countries’ positions on such issues, as maintaining of universal security, combating terrorism and extremism. Once again confirming Kyrgyzstan’s deep interest in broad cooperation with Turkmenistan, which has made impressive progress in the socio-economic development over recent years, President Almazbek Atambayev has also emphasized our country’s achievements in building of the modern industrial infrastructure. Being pretty certain that the state visit of the President of Turkmenistan will raise the bilateral relations to a new level, the Kyrgyz leader has stressed that the head of Turkmen state is always a welcome guest in Kyrgyzstan. In his turn, the Turkmen leader was truly grateful to the leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic for their support for our country’s initiatives, in particular, on the issues of energy security, transport interaction, sustainable development, and in others spheres. Welcoming the by-now close contacts established between the two states’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs which invest in the upward development of the Turkmen-Kyrgyz relations, the head of Turkmenistan has also spoken for furthering the established practice of ministerial consultations. The Turkmen leader has also focused attention on the need for comprehensive expansion of cooperation in the line of inter-parliamentary relations. Pending the issue of economic partnership intensification, the nation’s leader concentrated on the key trends of interaction, first of all, in the energy sector, in the field of transport and infrastructure. In this context, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has noted that Turkmenistan regards the Kyrgyz Republic as a strategic partner in construction of pipelines from our country towards the eastern direction. In this connection, overriding importance is attached to the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-China new gas pipeline project. The President of Turkmenistan has acknowledged availability of considerable potential for advancing partnership with the Kyrgyz Republic, given its solid scientific-intellectual base capable of laying the foundation for future developments in the power industry, agricultural and agri-food industry, and other sectors. Speaking of our country’s plans to launch one more satellite into the near-Earth orbit, the head of Turkmen state, taking advantage of the opportunity, invited Kyrgyz partners to enter into the mutuality-based cooperation in the field of high-tech space technologies, innovations and know-how exchange. The President of Turkmenistan also spoke for the need to unleash the countries’ cooperation-favored potential and excellent prospects in such attractive sectors, as tourism and recreation industry. Having expressed Turkmenistan’s readiness for interaction in this perspective trend, the nation’s leader put forward a proposal to construct a five-star hotel in the Issyk-Kul Region, and assigned the relevant members of the Turkmen delegation to carry out an on-site study of conditions and possibilities for the project implementation. Placing special accent on accent on the success of Culture Days of Turkmenistan which were held in Kyrgyzstan late in May of the running year, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov addressed words of gratitude to President Almazbek Atambayev for high organizational level of the action and warm hospitality offered to the Turkmen delegation. In turn, representatives of Kyrgyz culture and art are awaited in Turkmenistan, the nation’s leader said, having expressed confidence that these activities give special impetus to further strengthening of the creative artistic dialogue and enrich the bilateral relations with new bright content. After the enlarged talks, a ceremony of signing bilateral documents was held in the Press Conference Hall. The documents signed are: the Memorandum of Understanding between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Protocol for adoption of the Action Plan for Cooperation between the State Sports Committee of Turkmenistan and the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Protocol for adoption of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Agreement between the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic for cooperation in the field of culture in 2016-2017; the Agreement for Cooperation between Akhal velayat of Turkmenistan and Batken Region of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Agreement for Cooperation between Balkan velayat of Turkmenistan and Issyk-Kul Region of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Treaty on Scientific-Technical Cooperation between the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Agreement for Cooperation between the Main Archive Administration under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan and the Archive Agency of the State Registration Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the field of agriculture between the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Agriculture and Melioration of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Agreement for Cooperation between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic; the 2016-2017 Program of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic for cooperation in the sphere of proficiency evaluation of highly-qualified research and research-educational employees; the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic for cooperation in the field of education; the Verification Documents Exchange Protocol to the Treaty of Friendship, Understanding and Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Kyrgyz Republic signed in Ashgabat on November 11, 2014. To the applause of the ceremony attendees, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov affixed their signatures to the Joint Statement. Upon the signing ceremony’s completion, the heads of two states made an address to the press. Commenting on the outcomes of talks, the President of Kyrgyzstan has stressed that the summit meeting, conducted in the traditionally friendly atmosphere, marks a new stage of the interstate relations development. As the head of the Kyrgyz Republic noted, with great pleasure he would come to Ashgabat in December to take part in the festivities of the international level timed to the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality status, and in the next year, he would take advantage of the invitation extended by the Turkmen leader and pay an official visit to our country. The President of Kyrgyzstan once again heartily thanked President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and the delegation of Turkmenistan for the productive talks and gave the floor to the eminent Turkmen guest. Necessitating integration of efforts in the sphere of energy security, construction of transit-transport corridors regarded as an important factor of universal sustainable development, the head of Turkmen state has noted the significance of large infrastructural projects in these fields initiated and now activated by our country, including construction of the pipeline that will bridge Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. Dwelling on the issues of trade-economic partnership, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has highlighted significant role of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Kyrgyz Commission’s activity (as known its first meeting had been held in Ashgabat). Speaking of the progressive dynamics of the bilateral trade turnover and its upward trend over the past few years, the Turkmen leader has stressed the importance of strengthening the mutually beneficial contacts between the two countries’ business circles and entrepreneurs. The President of Turkmenistan has welcomed the parties’ willingness to create all necessary conditions for expanding the fruitful contacts between the two countries’ creative workers. At the same time, the head of Turkmen state has also underlined the availability of good possibilities for cooperation in the fields of education, science and high technologies, including space technologies. Having mentioned that the prospects for cooperation in tourism and sports were among the top-priority issues of the talks agenda, the President of Turkmenistan reminded that Ashgabat would host the Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts in 2017. In this context, the nation’s leader placed accent on the topicality of exchanging sport-related experience and establishing mutually beneficial contacts in that sphere. In conclusion, truly grateful to his Kyrgyz colleague for his personal contribution to developing the bilateral relations, the head of Turkmen state wished President Almazbek Atambayev great success in his responsible state activity, and the fraternal Kyrgyz people – happiness and prosperity. An official dinner in honor of the President of Turkmenistan was given on behalf of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, during which the two countries’ leaders exchanged speeches. *** On August 6, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov completed his two-day state visit to the Kyrgyz Republic. In the morning, the head of Turkmen state Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov together with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev proceeded to the Memorial Complex in the Victory Square located in Bishkek’s historical center. President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and President Almazbek Atambayev laid magnificent wreaths at the Eternal Flame Monument to pay tribute to the memory of courageous heroes of the Kyrgyz people. After the ceremony, the motorcade of the Presidents of Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan headed for the Bishkek International Airport – “Minas-2”. At parting, having stressed that the Turkmen leader’s state visit had opened a new important chapter in the history of Turkmen-Kyrgyz relations, the heads of two friendly states expressed confidence that the agreements reached during the top-level talks would achieve their practical implementation in the near future and would contribute to the mutually beneficial partnership advancement. Then, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, having once again expressed sincere gratitude to President Almazbek Atambayev for warm hospitality, went on board of the presidential airliner to depart from Bishkek.