ASHGABAT: Pakistan and Turkmenistan on Wednesday decided to enhance connectivity by establishing transportation and communication links and to pay special attention to establishing air, road and rail links on priority basis.

During a two-day official visit to Turkmenistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held talks in the sphere of mutual interest concerning bilateral, regional and international issues.

According to a joint communiqué, the two sides expressed their determination to comprehensively upgrade their cooperative partnership, which is in the fundamental interests of their peoples and is an important factor in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Turkmenistan also expressed support for the efforts of Pakistan to combat the menace of terrorism and extremism. Both sides decided to increase their cooperation in security, countering terrorism, and cooperation against illicit traffic of narcotics, transnational organised crime and other threats.

Given the special geo-economic and geo-political significance of both countries, Pakistan and Turkmenistan also agreed that bilateral cooperation in all sectors holds immense potential.

Both the leaders agreed to create favourable conditions and take up important development projects in trade, economic, financial and other sectors for the promotion of infrastructure, minerals, agriculture, manufacturing, multi-media technology, banking, environment and energy sectors.

The joint communiqué said that Turkmenistan could provide energy to Pakistan to meet its shortages. Both the countries agreed to jointly undertake regional and trans-regional cooperation and in that context, both sides underlined significance of TAPI project and decided to take measures for early implementation of that important regional project.

It was decided by the two leaders that bilateral cooperation in culture, science, art, tourism and sports should be further enhanced.

“Both countries are determined to increase their cooperation bilaterally as well as multilaterally at all for including UN, NAM, G-77, ECO, and OIC to promote regional peace, development and prosperity,” the joint statement said. The two sides decided to institute regular dialogue and further intensify the process of consultations and cooperation on regional and global issues of mutual concern.

Both sides agreed to keep close coordination for the successful conduct of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts games in Ashgabat in 2017.

The two leaders noted that Pakistan and Turkmenistan enjoy special relationship, which is characterized by bonds of close affinity, mutual respect and are deep-rooted in the hearts of the peoples. Both sides attach highest importance to the friendship between their peoples and ties.

In their talks, which were characterised by great warmth and spirit of friendship, leaders of the two countries held extensive negotiations and exchange on various issues.