On October 2, 2017, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin arrived in Turkmenistan on an official visit.
Officials greeted the President of Russia at the International Airport of Ashgabat, decorated with the national flags of two friendly countries. Along the carpet path leading from the airplane, in honor of the arrival of the high guest, the Honor Guard was built.
From the International Airport motorcade of the President of Russia proceeded to the Presidential Palace Complex "Oguzkhan". Here, at the main entrance, Russian President Vladimir Putin was warmly welcomed by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
After exchanging friendly handshakes, the leaders of the two countries went to the "Oguzkhan" hall, where the official ceremony of meeting the high guest was held. After the report of the commander of the Guard of Honor, the national anthems of the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan were performed. The heads of two states bypassed the Guard of Honor.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov presented to his Russian counterpart the members of the official delegation of Turkmenistan. The high-ranking guest was also welcomed by the leaders of the diplomatic corps accredited in our country. In turn, President Vladimir Putin introduced the members of the government delegation of the Russian Federation to the head of Turkmenistan.
After the traditional official photographing ceremony against the background of the national flags of the two countries, the Turkmen leader invited the high-ranking guest to enter the Altyn hall, where Turkmen-Russian top-level talks began in a narrow format.
Within the framework of the talks, issues of bilateral relations, trade and economic cooperation, regional and international security, and the situation in Central Asia were discussed.
Then the talks continued in the Gorkut Ata Hall in an expanded format, with the participation of official delegations of both countries.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Ashgabat is ready for close cooperation with Moscow in matters of ensuring security in Central Asia, respects Russia's interests in our region and confirmed the readiness of the Turkmen side for further joint work with Russia in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
The Russian President assured that "Russia respects the neutral status of Turkmenistan" and highly appreciated Ashkhabad's contribution to strengthening peace and stability in the region.
At the end of the meeting, the ceremony of signing bilateral documents was held in the enlarged format in the "Seljuk Khan" hall.
Presidents of Turkmenistan and Russia Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Vladimir Putin signed the Strategic Partnership Treaty between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation and a Joint statement on the results of the talks, as well as in the presence of the heads of state, a large package of bilateral documents was signed.
At the end of the signing ceremony, Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Vladimir Putin proceeded to the "Makhtumkuli" hall where they were greeted with applause by the members of the government of Turkmenistan, official delegations of the two countries, heads of the Mejlis, domestic and foreign media.
The decree of the President of the Russian Federation on awarding the President of Turkmenistan with the high state award of Russia - the Order of Alexander Nevsky for his great personal contribution to the development of interstate relations, ensuring stability and security in the Central Asian region, is read out solemnly.
Warmly congratulating the Turkmen leader on this honorable award, President Vladimir Putin handed the Order of Alexander Nevsky to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with applause.
Expressing sincere gratitude to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for the honor, the Turkmen leader noted that he regards this high award as a sign of respect for the entire Turkmen people, a symbol of steady growth and the all-round strengthening of the traditionally friendly Turkmen-Russian relations.
Then the head of Turkmenistan addressed the representatives of the mass media.
After that the head of Turkmenistan, speaking to the present and his Russian counterpart, announced the award of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to one of the highest state awards of our country - the order "Hyzmatdaşlygy ösdürmäge goşandy üçin", which means "For contribution to the development of cooperation."
Then the Turkmen leader in a solemn ceremony presented President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin with a high state award of Turkmenistan - the order "Hyzmatdaşlygy ösdürmäge goşandy üçin".
As the Turkmen leader emphasized, this decision is a recognition of the merits of the Russian leader in the development and strengthening of Turkmen-Russian relations, his significant contribution to ensuring peace and expanding international cooperation.
In his speech, the President of the Russian Federation expressed sincere gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the Turkmen people, all the participants of the celebration for the high appreciation of his activities. Emphasizing that he perceives the honorable award that was presented to him as a sign of high respect for Russia and the Russian people, Vladimir Putin noted that this event is another vivid testimony of the depth and strength of the centuries-old brotherly bonds of our peoples.
Touching upon today's talks, President Vladimir Putin, referring to media representatives, noted that they were held in a very constructive atmosphere, on almost all international issues the views of our two countries coincide or are very close.
On the same day, the head of the Russian Federation visited the Memorial Complex "Halk Hakydasy", erected in the south-western part of the capital and perpetuating the memory of national heroes - defenders of the Motherland, as well as victims of the devastating Ashgabat earthquake of 1948. Here President Vladimir Putin laid flowers to the monument "Baky Şöhrat".
In the evening, in honor of the distinguished guest, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave an official dinner, at which the leaders of the two countries exchanged speeches. After the solemn reception of the head of Turkmenistan and Russia, they said good-bye to each other warmly.
After completing an official visit to Turkmenistan, the head of the Russian Federation proceeded to the capital's International Airport and departed Ashgabat.
