Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan Atadjan Movlamov has said that Turkmenistan and Pakistan have excellent relations not only on the state but also individual levels.

He expressed these views during a conference on Turkmenistan at a local hotel on Saturday. The conference was attended by Ambassador of Tajikistan Jononov Sher Ali, Ambassador of Uzbekistan Farqat A Sidikov and diplomats of other Central Asian states.

Movlamov said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had visited Turkmenistan in November last year to attend “Global Sustainable Transport System” conference in Ashgabat.

The meeting between Nawaz Sharif and president held on the sidelines of the conference worked as a catalyst in augmenting bilateral relations, he said.

He said that high-level visits were also expected between the two brotherly countries this year. He said that Central Asian region had a lot of potential for development and enhancing regional connectivity.

He said that this year was significant for Turkmenistan and it would set new goals and priorities for further strengthening socio-economic prosperity, regional connectivity and democratisation of the country. “This year, presidential elections will be held on February 12. In this election, the president is elected for seven year. The current president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, is also contesting with eight other candidates.”

The ambassador said that the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games would be held in September, in which players from 62 countries would participate.

Pakistan is also included in the participating countries, he said. He said that the grand opening of a seaport would also take place this year.