The National Parliament hosted a meeting with a representative delegation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation headed by Valentina Matvienko that has arrived in Ashgabat to attend the gala opening of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. Having thanked the hosts for the cordial welcome, the guests extended their heartfelt congratulations for the start of Asiada – 2017 and stressed they were delighted to be a part of this great sport festival. During the meeting, the sides vividly exchanged views on the key issues of interstate relations and further development of the inter-parliamentary cooperation including that on the international scale, within the framework of reputable regional and international organizations and structures. The parties also discussed the new vectors of cooperation between specialized committees of the National Parliament of Turkmenistan and the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. Special emphasis was placed on efforts of the legislative bodies of the two countries in promoting the regional commercial and economic relations, and intensification of cultural and humanitarian contacts and ties in the spheres of education and science. Members of the Russian delegation were briefed on the most important aspects of the legal reform ongoing in Turkmenistan. In this regard, the review of international experience in safeguarding civil rights and freedoms, strengthening democratic principles in the society, protecting maternal and child healthcare, surging social protection of the people etc. were highlighted as important areas of the work of the National Parliament. Noting that Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation attach great importance to the development of constructive interstate dialog, the sides spoke in favor of strengthening the efficient cooperation through, inter alia, regular parliamentary exchange.