Official visit of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: priorities of business and scientific and technological partnership defined

Within the framework of the official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held meetings with businessmen in Saudi Arabia, visited the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and the historic city of Ad-Diriyah. 

The rich programme of the Turkmen leader’s visit to the friendly state vividly proves the strategic character of bilateral relations as well as sincere tone and business character of the dialogue established within the last years. The agreements achieved during the top level talks in Saudi Arabia resulted in signing a package of documents will offer a powerful incentive to the bilateral partnership. 

Within the framework of the first day of the visit, the President of Turkmenistan held meetings with the heads of various spheres in Saudi Arabia, consultations and talks at the interdepartmental level. The members of the government delegation of Turkmenistan discussed the issues of mutual interests with their colleagues representing the foreign-policy agency, the system of education, the complex of trade and industry, the financial sector, fuel and energy complex, agriculture, civil aviation among others. 

The possibilities of cooperation in the sphere of sports and youth policy, culture and information were also considered. 

The Turkmen leader also visited the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh, where the exposition of goods produced in our country was exhibited. The exposition included the samples of the export-oriented branches of the national economy, in particular, textile industry, carpet weaving industry as well as industrial and processing enterprises, etc. 

The President of Turkmenistan and heads of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh headed to the conference hall to hold a meeting with leading businessmen in Saudi Arabia interested in our country’s approach in implementing the potential of cooperation and building up active business relations. 

Opening the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President of the group of companies “Al Mukairin Group” Mr. Khalid bin Abdulaziz AlMukairin thanked the distinguished guest for visiting the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and emphasized that businessmen in Saudi Arabia demonstrated keen interest in the fraternal country – Turkmenistan. He noted that Saudi Arabian businessmen called for enhancing cooperation between businessmen in the two countries that would promote implementing the existing potential. 

Then the floor was given to the President of Turkmenistan. 

Speaking about the fruitful meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, during which the issues of further development of integrated relations between Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia, the Turkmen leader underlined that the countries paid significant attention to enhancing trade and economic cooperation. 

Speaking during the meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov presented the key areas of cooperation defined on the outcomes of the bilateral talks that would bring the relations between Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia up to a qualitatively new level. 

Electric-power industry was specified as the first area of cooperation. In this regard, the President of Turkmenistan underlined the special role of cooperation within the framework of implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project with the annual capacity of 33 billion cubic metres of natural gas and invited the companies and financial institutions in Saudi Arabia to take part in the project. 

The second area of cooperation – transport sphere could become one of the priority vectors of trade and economic relations between the two states. 

Cooperation in the sphere of construction materials industry was also specified as a priority area for cooperation as Saudi Arabia is the country that has accumulated profound experience in production of cement. 

The direct trade relations between Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia rank among the key areas for cooperation. In this regard, the leader of the Turkmen state suggested holding consultations between the delegations of the two countries on the issues of increasing the volumes of bilateral export and import transactions and widening the list of mutual deliveries. 

In conclusion, the President expressed belief in the further development of bilateral mutually beneficial, efficient relations at the new level. 

Then, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov answered the questions of the heads of companies in Saudi Arabia. 

Then, the cortege of the President of Turkmenistan headed to the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. 

Head of the Centre for Science and Technology Dr. Turki Saud Bin Mohammed Al-Saud and other officials greeted the Turkmen leader at the main entrance to the Centre. 

The President of Turkmenistan headed to the conference hall, where the presentation telling about the history, goals and objectives of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, key areas of activities in the centre, scientists and specialists if various profile, the structure of the city, its laboratories, scientific and research centres, etc. was arranged. 

In particular, the complex includes the science and research institutes specializing in the sphere of computer technologies, electronics, oil and petrochemical industry, energy, astronomy and geophysics, cosmic exploration, etc. 

Space and aeronautic science are the spheres, where the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology invested significant funds to develop infrastructure and human resources. 

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the first satellite of Turkmenistan was designed to ensure telecommunication and the second one would be created given the requests of ministries and departments of the country with the aim to ensure development and satisfy the needs of the economic complex of the country. 

Then, the President of Turkmenistan headed to the historic city of Ad-Diriyah – an open-air museum in the suburbs of Riyadh. 

Director General of the Ad-Diriyah museum Abdullah Al-Akbar greeted the Turkmen leader. 

Driving electric cars along the territory of the historical complex, the President of Turkmenistan and Director General of the Ad-Diriyah museum got acquainted with the history of this ancient city and its sights. 

Then the Turkmen leader headed to the Riyadh King Khalid International Airport and left for Jeddah. 

High ranking officials greeted President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the King Abdulaziz International Airport. 

From the airport, the leader of the Turkmen state headed to his residence in Jeddah. 

Then, the Turkmen leader made a pilgrimage to Kaaba in Mecca.