President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani held a meeting with Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of Cabinet Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan at the Presidential Palace on Saturday.
According to the press release issued by Office of the President of Afghanistan, the sides discussed an array of issues pertaining to expansion of bilateral relations in various areas, regional connectivity projects namely TAPI, TAP, fiber optics and railway; Afghan peace process, and educational scholarships for Afghan youth.
President Ashraf Ghani termed Afghanistan-Turkmenistan relations brotherly and friendly, saying that the relationship continues to deepen in trade, transit, economic and political areas.
Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov stressed that the government of Turkmenistan is willing to expand mutual relations. He expressed support for the Afghan government’s vision for regional connectivity, the president’s efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as the Afghan peace process.
Several large projects will be inaugurated in Afghanistan during the current year, the Turkmen Foreign Minister said, adding that the operational work of TAPI pipeline has been completed in Turkmenistan’s territory and necessary measures have been adopted to extend the pipeline on the Afghan soil.
President Ashraf Ghani called completion of regional economic projects as the government’s key priority and that Afghanistan is keen to import more electrical power from Turkmenistan.
President Ghani also discussed the expansion of the security, economic and political relations between the two countries and said, “peace and stability in Afghanistan will lead to peace and stability in the region.”
On Saturday, Turkmen Foreign Minister also held a meeting with the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah.
