Azernews.Az

Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met the Advisor to the Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Saad bin Khaled Al Saud, the Turkmen government said on Friday, Trend news agency reported.

They exchanged views on the prospects of bilateral cooperation in the priority areas.

"Saudi Arabia sincerely values the ties of friendship and fruitful cooperation with Turkmenistan and enthusiastically perceives achievements of the Turkmen people on the way of large-scale progressive reforms," Mohammed bin Saad bin Khaled Al Saud said.

The Turkmen leader, in turn, stressed the constructive intergovernmental dialogue, built on the principles of equality, mutual respect and trust.

Noting with satisfaction that cooperation between the two countries has acquired a new quality and content in recent years, Berdimuhamedov noted the presence of a solid potential for progressive strengthening of mutually beneficial partnership in the interest of both countries.

Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Turkmenistan and establish diplomatic relations with the Caspian state. In 1997, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia was opened in Ashgabat.

The first official visit of Berdimuhamedov to Saudi Arabia took place in April 2007. The two countries signed a package of bilateral documents including the general agreement on bilateral cooperation and the agreement on cooperation between the chambers of commerce of the two countries.

Both countries are exploring partnership opportunities in the areas of fuel and energy complex, production of cement and other building materials, as well as in agriculture, including animal husbandry, cultivation of grain and forage crops.