President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on Saturday held a telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.
According to the TDH news agency’s report, the Presidents expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to exchange views on the state and prospects of the Turkmen-Afghan dialogue and discuss important aspects of international and regional issues of mutual interest.
Focusing on the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline, it was noted that the construction of its Afghan sector will begin next year. The laying of a new section of the fiber-optic communication line between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan has been completed and is ready for commissioning. Turkmen specialists will also assist in connecting this network along the Ymamnazar-Akina and Serhedabad-Turgundi routes to the Afghan communication system along the Herat-Akina route.
The two countries are also jointly building the Akina-Andkhoy railway, the construction of which is entering its final stage.
The Presidents particularly noted the importance of the Lapis Lazuli transport corridor, created within the framework of the Agreement signed between Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani expressed deep gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for his firm and unwavering support for Afghanistan in the international political arena. Thus, the active position of the Turkmen side was emphasized during the international conference on Afghanistan held in Geneva on November 23-24.
At the same time, the specific financial and material contribution of Turkmenistan to the practical implementation of such projects as the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan high-voltage power transmission line and fiber-optic communication line, and the construction of a railway from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan was outlined during the phone talk.
A mosque, built in Akina settlement of Andkhoy District in Faryab province as a humanitarian aid from the Turkmen side to the Afghan people, will be opened in the near future.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also noted that in the near future, medicines and medical supplies, food, textile and household products will be sent to Afghanistan from Turkmenistan as humanitarian aid.
Focusing on issues on the world agenda, the officials noted the need to develop a coordinated, unified approach to solving urgent problems of our time.
At the end of the conversation, the Presidents of the two countries expressed confidence that bilateral relations would strengthen and expand in all areas, including in the political, trade, economic, and cultural spheres.
