Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

An Iranian delegation led by member of parliament Javad Karimi Godusi has held meetings at the foreign ministry and parliament of Turkmenistan as part of a visit to Ashgabat, the Turkmen government reported.

"The meeting reiterated the continued commitment of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran to a constructive partnership and called for expanding bilateral cooperation built on the principles of mutual respect, equality and consideration of mutual interests," it said.

According to the Turkmen government, stimulation of parliamentary relations is of great importance in terms of further development of Turkmen-Iranian cooperation as an essential factor for strengthening the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

Iran and Turkmenistan have common land borders and are neighboring countries on the Caspian Sea. They have maintained relations since Turkmenistan's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Iran was the first nation to recognize Turkmenistan as an independent nation. Since then, the two countries have enjoyed good relations and have cooperated in economics, the infrastructure and energy sectors.

The two states are linked by several major economic projects.

The Tajan-Mashhad-Sarakhs railroad, the Korpeje-Kordkuy and the Dauletabad-Sarakhs-Khangiran gas pipelines as well as the Dostluk Dam were built through a joint venture.

Currently the project on construction of the North-South railway corridor that will significantly facilitate access of Central Asian countries to the Persian Gulf is underway. Construction of the rail corridor is supported by the Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.

Tehran has the largest volume of trade turnover with Turkmenistan after Russia. The two countries' annual trade currently amounts to $4.2 billion.

Speaking at an Iran-Turkmenistan seminar in July 2012, Iranian Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari said Iran and Turkmenistan's trade turnover will increase to $10 billion over five years.

Turkmenistan mainly exports to Iran natural gas, oil and petrochemical products, as well as textiles.