On August 7, in the course of the second – final day of his working visit to the Republic of Turkey, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Within the frames of the meeting in the “one-to-one” format, the sides exchanged views on the topical issues of regional and international interest-based policy. Then, the meeting continued in the enlarged format with participation of members of the two countries’ delegations. Addressing the attendees assembled, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a high assessment to the Turkmen-Turkish relations, emphasizing the strategic nature of interstate partnership and highlighting great personal contribution of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov in the successful development of cooperation. The Turkish leader expressed high interest of Turkey in further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation in such important areas as energy, transport, communications, and industrial sector. Focusing on the issues of advancing interaction in the humanitarian field, regarding it as an integral part of the interstate dialogue, the head of Turkey spoke in favor of deepening the traditional fruitful relations in education, science and culture. Not the least important are the by-now available opportunities for cooperation in the field of tourism – to the development of which the two countries attach heightened attention. Mentioning the fact that Turkmenistan is preparing to host the 5th Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts, the President of Turkey has assured that Turkish partners are ready to fully cooperate in this area, to provide any necessary assistance in organizing and conducting the Games at a high level. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also invited Turkmenistan to take part in the “EXPO-2016” World Botanical Exhibition to be held in Antalya from the third decade of April to October. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, in turn, has noted that Turkmenistan and the Turkish Republic are successfully cooperating in the political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian sectors; and the centuries-old historical ties, kindred traditions, and joint experience have become a priceless asset of our peoples. As President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has emphasized further, the most striking instance of the fraternal Turkmen-Turkish relations are the steadily growing bilateral trade. Moreover, there is every possibility to increase it significantly in the nearest years. The head of Turkmen state also has noted with satisfaction that there are many other examples which can testify to the mutually beneficial cooperation in the oil-gas, transportation, energy, construction, production and processing industries, and other sectors, where implementation of large projects is entrusted to Turkish companies. One such is the countries’ partnership in the textile industry. However, not all reserves have been involved in advancing interaction. New untapped opportunities open in connection with Turkmenistan’s grandiose plans for development of tourism industry, the competitive domestic fuel-energy and transport complex, and seaport infrastructure. Cooperation in the transport and communications sector is regarded as an important sphere of interest-based cooperation. Grandiose joint project – a new International Seaport, the foundation laying ceremony of which was held with participation of both countries’ leaders in 2013, having become a significant logistics center of the continent, will connect many countries and peoples. Successful implementation of numerous joint projects opens new points of contacts and opportunities for the business community of Turkey in the promising Turkmen market with its favorable investment climate assigned to activate partnership in the economic sphere (in the energy and transport inclusive) and investment activities, implementation of joint infrastructure projects. Turkmenistan and Turkey have also accumulated vast experience of effective interaction in the spheres of science and education. At present, in Ashgabat, construction is in progress of a new building of the International Turkmen-Turkish University. Thousands of our students study at Turkish Universities, getting the qualitative education and demand-driven specialties. Not the least significant is intensification of cooperation in the field of culture, humanitarian contacts, and preservation of historical and archaeological heritage of the Turkmen and Turkish nations, whose fates are inextricably intertwined. In this regard, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has also sorted out the TURKSOY-associated cooperation, in the frames of which numerous activities and cultural actions are organized. There are enormous prospects for productive cooperation in the tourism industry. The corollary of it is a number of modern infrastructural facilities built over the past period by our Turkish partners in the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone. The experience accumulated in this field is a good foundation for expanding cooperation. The Turkmen leader expressed satisfaction over the results of yesterday’s meeting with representatives of Turkish big business. In this regard, the Turkmen leader invited Turkish companies to participate in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline construction project (1,800 kilometers total length) designed to considerably invest in ensuring energy security and sustainable socio-economic development of Asian countries. President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov invited the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take part in the upcoming celebrations to be held in Ashgabat in December on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality. Truly grateful to his colleague for the invitation to visit Turkmenistan, the Turkish leader expressed confidence in further strengthening of the Turkmen-Turkish friendship, expansion of fruitful cooperation between the two countries in the name of commonwealth, peace and progress. After the meeting, the Turkmen leader headed to the International Airport of Istanbul to leave for Ashgabat.