President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov completes official visit of to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Within the framework of the official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had a meeting with the heads of the Islamic Development Bank and visited the city of Medina on May 3. 

In the morning, the Turkmen leader’s cortege headed to the headquarters of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

IDB President Ahmed Mohamed Ali Al-Madani cordially greeted the Turkmen leader at the main entrance to the building. 

After the official ceremony of photographing on the background of the national flags of the two countries had concluded, the leader of Turkmenistan and the IDB President held the one-on-one talks. 

Once again cordially greeting the distinguished guest, Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali Al-Madani emphasized that it was an honour for him to have a meeting with the head of dynamically developing Turkmenistan, whose visit to the Kingdom had become a significant event in the history of relations of the two states. 

Thanking the head of the Islamic Development Bank for the warm welcome and hospitality, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highly evaluated the meeting and talks held within the framework of the visit and expressed belief that the agreements achieved would promote enhancing interstate cooperation in various spheres. 

Noting with satisfaction that the Islamic Development Bank is one of the reliable business partners of Turkmenistan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to the IDB President for the comprehensive support provided to our country. 

It was noted that the fruitful, confidential, constructive cooperation between the two states included the successful implementation of a number of ambitious social and economic projects amounted to US$ 690.00 million, in particular in the spheres of health care, transport and communication as well as other areas. 

Then the members of the government delegations of the two countries joined the talks. 

Speaking about the prospects of cooperation with Turkmenistan, Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali Al-Madani underlined its fruitful character and expressed the interest of the Islamic Development Bank in strengthening the traditional partnership. Highly evaluating the active position of the Turkmen state in widening constructive dialogue with leading authoritative structures, the IDB President emphasized the importance of the initiatives put forward by the President of Turkmenistan with the aim to ensure stability and sustainable development in the region and in the world. Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali Al-Madani noted that implementing the policy of good neighbourliness and wide international cooperation, Turkmenistan today played a key role in Central Asia and in future this role would steadily grow. 

Taking an opportunity, Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali Al-Madani congratulated the Turkmen leader on the important for the world community event – construction of the Turkmen section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline launched in December, 2015. 

The exchange of views on the prospects and opportunities for widening bilateral cooperation within the framework of ambitious reforms, in particular in the sphere of financing of new projects and programmes aimed at ensuring the progressive social and economic development of the country. 

It was noted that in compliance with the existing agreements, the IDB representatives had drafted the Memorandum on Mutual Understanding between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Development Bank aimed at enhancing cooperation in the sphere of financing promising projects on development. 

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the economically important for Turkmenistan and the whole region TAPI project ranked among them. 

As is known, the UN General Assembly adopted the Resolution on the Role of transport and transit corridors in ensuring international cooperation for sustainable development in 2014 on the initiative of Turkmenistan. Underlining that at the suggestion of UN Secretary General, Ashgabat will host the Global Conference on Sustainable Transport System, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited the IDB representatives to participate in the forum. 

In general, the Programme of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Islamic Development Bank for 2016-2018 includes eight projects aimed at developing infrastructure, economy and social sphere. 

Thanking once again Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali Al-Madani for supporting efficient cooperation between Turkmenistan and the IDB, the Turkmen leader invited the IDB President to visit our country at any convenient time. 

Upon completion of the talks, the ceremony of signing bilateral documents took place. The President of Turkmenistan and the President of the Islamic Development Bank signed the Memorandum on Mutual Understanding between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Development Bank on enhancing cooperation to finance promising projects of development as well as the Protocol between the Turkmengas State Concern and the Islamic Development Bank on the outcomes of the evaluation commission on the TAPI gas pipeline project. 

Upon completion of the ceremony of signing the documents, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov bade farewell to those present wishing the IDB representatives every success in their work and expressed belief in the further successful development of mutually beneficial partnership. 

From the King Abdulaziz International Airport left Jeddah for Medina. 

High-ranking officials greeted the Turkmen leader at the Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport. 

From the airport, the Turkmen leader headed to the Mosque of Prophet Mohammed. 

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the members of the delegation prayed namaz. 

Upon completion of the visit to the sacred for each true Muslim places, the Turkmen leader headed to the Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport and left Medina for the Turkmen capital. 

High-ranking officials greeted the Turkmen leader at the Ashgabat International Airport.