ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkmenistan signed on Monday five agreements and memoranda of understanding to boost cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, media and culture.
One of the agreements relates to the $7.6 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project under which Pakistan will get 1.3 billion cubic feet per day of gas. The TAPI accord is a follow-up to an inter-government agreement signed by Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and India in December last year.
Monday’s agreements were signed during a visit by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan who had arrived here earlier in the day to a red carpet welcome.
The signing ceremony was held at the Prime Minister’s House.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Turkmen minister Rashid Meredov signed an MoU on cooperation between the two foreign ministries and Information Firdous Ashiq Awan and Turkmen Minister for Culture Gulmurad Muradov an agreement on cooperation between APP and Turkmen News State Service.
The agreement on gas sales and purchase under the TAPI gas pipeline was signed by Inter-State Gas Systems’ managing director Mubeen Saulat and Turkmenistan Gas Trade Concern’s chairman Amanali Hanalyev.
Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Turkmen Minister for Trade and Foreign Economic Relations Byar Abayev signed an accord on cooperation between the two ministries.
An MoU on cultural cooperation was signed by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani and Turkmen Culture Minister Gulmurad Muradov.
During an earlier meeting at the Presidency, President Asif Ali Zardari and President Berdimuhamedov agreed to expedite work on energy projects and increase bilateral trade. They also agreed to set up direct air links to develop a trade corridor in the region.
President Berdimuhamedov termed his visit a ‘landmark event’ and said it would give a fresh impetus to bilateral relations.
The $7.6 billion TAPI project will take Turkmen gas through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.
“Turkmenistan is an important member of the Central Asian Republics and can play a vital role in bridging the region with the rest of the world,” President Zardari said.
The Turkmen president said his country was keen to upgrade its economic and trade ties with Pakistan. He invited Mr Zardari to visit Turkmenistan.
During their meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the Turkmen president agreed to strengthen relations through increased cooperation in diverse fields.
They said that the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) should hold regular meetings to explore avenues for boosting cooperation in various fields.
“The JMC will be assigned the task to give impetus to relations in the fields of construction, agro-based industries, investment and trade and technology for the benefit of people of the two countries,” Prime Minister Gilani said.
He said the two countries were strategic partners and Pakistan could provide Turkmenistan corridors over land and sea routes. “Pakistan supports the energy corridor -- TAPI -- and also wants to import 1,000MW electricity from Turkmenistan.”
The Turkmen president said his country was ready to export electricity and gas from a newly-discovered gas field having geographical proximity with Pakistan.
The two sides agreed that their foreign ministers would meet regularly and expert-level meetings would be held to devise operational strategies and find ways of liberalising the visa regime between the two countries.
Mr Gilani offered assistance in the field of information technology and said he would soon send the IT secretary to Turkmenistan to discuss the matter. He said a senior minister would visit Turkmenistan to discuss matters pertaining to export and manufacturing of cement.
The Turkmen president proposed to hold an investment forum in Ashkabad.
Chairmen of the Board of Investment and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan will visit Turkmenistan to explore avenues of greater cooperation in different sectors.
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