On March 27, 2018, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani arrived in Turkmenistan on a two-day official visit.
The head of the Iranian state was greeted by the officials at the International Airport of Ashgabat, decorated with the National Flags of the two countries. From the airport, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran went to his residence, located at the Oguzkent Hotel.
In the first half of the day, the high guest, accompanied by an honorable escort, proceeded to Independence Square. Here, the Iranian colleague was greeted by the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The ceremony of the official meeting of the high Iranian guest began with the report of the commander of the Guard of Honor. The national anthems of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkmenistan were heard. Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Hassan Rouhani bypassed the warriors. The Turkmen leader presented the members of the official delegation of Turkmenistan to the Iranian colleague. The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran also met with the leaders of the diplomatic corps accredited in our country. In turn, the head of the neighboring state presented to the President of Turkmenistan members of the governmental delegation of Iran.
At the end of the ceremony the soldiers of the Guard of Honor passed through Independence Square with a solemn march.
Then the leaders of the two countries went together to the Palace of Ruhyet. After the photographing ceremony against the background of the national flags of the two countries, Turkmen-Iranian talks began in a one-to-one format.
Thanking the distinguished guest for the invitation to visit Turkmenistan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that our country regards this summit as another important stage on the way of expanding fruitful Turkmen-Iranian cooperation successfully developing both in bilateral and multilateral formats.
President Hassan Rouhani reaffirmed Iran's continued commitment to the traditionally friendly relations with neighboring Turkmenistan. Expressing confidence that the current talks in Ashgabat will contribute to the effective implementation of the existing potential of the partnership, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran addressed the best wishes to the Turkmen people.
The leaders of the two countries discussed a wide range of issues of Turkmen-Iranian cooperation, concretized its key directions in the context of implementing bilateral agreements. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on a number of topical issues of the regional and global agenda, confirming the readiness of Turkmenistan and Iran for further interaction in the international arena.
At the end of the meeting of the Presidents of Turkmenistan and Iran in a one-to-one format, the talks continued in an expanded format with the participation of members of the official delegations of the two countries.
Addressing the Iranian colleague and members of the Iranian delegation, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that today's meeting opens a new page in the history of Turkmen-Iranian relations and expressed confidence that its results will lead to the conclusion of bilateral cooperation to a qualitatively new level.
At the talks, the need to revitalize the bilateral Intergovernmental Commission was noted, which will create favorable conditions for cooperation in the energy and transport-communications, machine-building, light industry, agriculture and processing sectors. The role of the humanitarian component in the development of interstate relations was underlined.
After the Turkmen-Iranian talks, a ceremony of signing bilateral documents was held at the highest level.
In the presence of Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Hassan Rouhani, the following were signed: Program of cooperation in the field of culture, art, science and education for 2018-2020; Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Cooperation for 2018-2022; Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of agriculture; Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of industry; Plan for cooperation in the field of sports for 2018-2019; Memorandum of Understanding on the exchange of customs information in electronic format; Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a joint Turkmen-Iranian Business Council; Memorandum of Understanding on air transport; Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of certification; Plan for the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Turkmenstandartlari State Civil Service and the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran; Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Institute of Political and International Studies of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Education between the Turkmen Agricultural University named after S.A. Niyazov (Turkmenistan) and Mashhad University named after Firdousi (Islamic Republic of Iran); Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Education between the Turkmen National Institute of World Languages named after Dovletmammad Azadi (Turkmenistan) and Mashhad University named after Firdousi (Islamic Republic of Iran).
Following the official visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Turkmenistan, a Joint Statement of Heads of States was adopted.
After the ceremony of signing the documents, the leaders of the two countries addressed the representatives of the mass media.
Highly appreciating the results of the visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Turkmen leader was pleased to confirm that the bilateral partnership, calculated for the long-term perspective, has been given a powerful impetus.
In turn, voicing the results of the summit meeting symbolically for the holiday of the Novruz holiday, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran noted the constructiveness of the talks held in Ashgabat, during which a wide range of issues of cooperation in various fields was discussed.
In the evening, in honor of the distinguished guest, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave an official dinner.
The official visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Turkmenistan continues.
