On August 8, 2017, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov left for a two-day official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
At the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, decorated with the State Flags of the two countries, officials greeted President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on Azerbaijani soil.
From the airport the motorcade of the President of Turkmenistan went to the residence of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "Zagulba". Here, in the square, a ceremony of an official meeting of a high Turkmen guest was held. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev warmly welcomed President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
After the ceremony of the official meeting, President Ilham Aliyev invited President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov into the residence. Here, after the official photographing ceremony against the background of the national flags of the two countries, Turkmen-Azerbaijani high-level talks took place in a one-to-one format.
Once again, heartily greeting his Turkmen colleague in Baku, President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence in the success of today's summit meeting, designed to give Turkmen-Azerbaijani cooperation a new impetus.
Thanking the leader of the friendly country for the invitation to pay an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan and a warm welcome, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed that the development of fruitful relations with neighboring countries is one of the priority directions of Turkmenistan's foreign policy.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, taking this opportunity, invited his Azerbaijani counterpart to take part in the opening ceremony of the forthcoming Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, addressing also the best wishes to the brotherly people of Azerbaijan.
Further negotiations continued in an expanded format - with the participation of the members of official delegations of the two countries.
During the talks held in a friendly and businesslike atmosphere, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of Turkmen-Azerbaijani relations, focusing on key areas of cooperation in the context of modern realities and prospects. Having expressed support for building productive trade and economic cooperation, strengthening business contacts, the leaders of the two countries also stressed the importance of stimulating traditional humanitarian and cultural ties as an integral part of the interstate dialogue.
Noting the effective nature of the activities of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijani commission, the last meeting of which was held in Baku, the Turkmen leader confirmed the readiness of the Turkmen side to hold its next meeting in Ashgabat.
During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on topical issues of regional and international policy of mutual interest.
At the end of the talks in the enlarged format, the signing ceremony of bilateral documents was held.
Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Ilham Aliyev signed the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Agreements on cooperation in the field of civil defense, prevention and liquidation of emergency situations, in the areas of maritime merchant shipping, protection of industrial property, copyright and related rights, environmental protection, veterinary medicine and plant quarantine were signed at the intergovernmental level. The governments concluded a memorandum of understanding on the development of cooperation in the field of energy and an agreement on cooperation in the field of culture.
At the interdepartmental level, documents on cooperation in the tourism sector, in the tax sphere, between the ministries of internal affairs of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan were signed.
After the ceremony of signing the documents, the leaders of the two countries addressed the representatives of the mass media.
On the same day, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Artur Rasizade.
In the second half of the day, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proceeded to the place of rest of the national leader of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, where he laid a wreath paying tribute to the memory of the first President of Azerbaijan. The head of Turkmenistan also honored the memory of the mother of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, laying flowers at the place of her repose.
Then President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov went to the Memorial Complex of Martyrs. Paying tribute to the memory of the people's heroes, the Turkmen leader laid a wreath at the Memorial in solemnity, at which the Honor Guard was built. State anthems of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Azerbaijan were played.
In the evening, in honor of the high Turkmen guest, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an official dinner, at which the two heads of states exchanged speeches.
Official visit of the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the Republic of Azerbaijan continues.
