Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

A delegation led by Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister paid a two-day visit to Tehran on February 15-16.

Rashid Meredov was accompanied by the representatives of Turkmenistan's banking system and energy sector.

During the visit, Meredov held several meetings with senior Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

As part of the visit, the Turkmen FM met his Iranian counterpart Zarif, and said the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway will be completed and put into operation soon.

"Tehran and Ashgabat are implementing some strategic commercial projects," he noted.

The total length of the railway, which runs from Kazakh steppes via the Karakum desert to the mountainous Gulistan province in the north of Iran, is 900 kilometers, 700 kilometers of which runs through the Turkmen territory.

The large-scale Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway project has been implemented since 2007 after the signing of a high-level trilateral agreement between Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran.

Speaking at the joint press conference, Meredov said Ashgabat is proud of its good relations with Tehran.

"Tehran and Ashgabat are implementing some strategic commercial projects," Meredov said.

Zarif, in turn, noted that Iran and Turkmenistan have bright prospects ahead of them regarding joint projects.

He also said Iran will hold a two-week exhibition in the Turkmen capital.

"Bilateral ties are at an excellent level and deepening further," Zarif said.

As part of the visit, the Turkmen FM also met President Rouhani. During the meeting, the president said the Caspian Sea region is home to peace, calm security, and cooperation.

"Boosting relations with Turkmenistan is of high importance for Iran," he said. "Tehran is ready to export technical and engineering services to Ashgabat."

He went on to note that the Caspian Sea regional states need to enhance cooperation in different fields, including environment, sea, ecosystem, shipping lines, and ensuring security and stability.

Meredov, for his part, said Ashgabat is ready to increase its relations with Tehran.

"We have had good negotiations with Iran in different fields such as energy, electricity swap, railway, and banking system," he noted.

He also invited Rouhani for an official visit to Ashgabat.

Later, the Turkmen FM was received by Iranian Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi. During the meeting, the parties emphasized boosting transit of goods via national road and rail networks to Iran's southern ports.

Meredov also met with Iran's Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian.

Turkmenistan has officially requesting the transit of 800 million kilowatt hour of its surplus electricity to Ankara via Iranian territory, but Iran has not responded to the request so far.

"Turkmenistan has already signed the electricity exports deal with a Turkish company," Meredov said.

He expressed hope that Iran agrees to the request.

Meredov also said Turkmenistan exported over 1.5 billion kilowatt hour of electricity to Iran in 2013.

As part of the visit, the Turkmen FM was also received by Iranian Industry, Mine, and Trade Minister Mohammadreza Nematzadeh.

During the meeting, the Iranian minister said the two countries have the potential to increase bilateral trade up to $10 billion per year.

"The two countries' bilateral trade currently stands at $5 billion," he said. "Iran plans to hold a special exhibition in Ashgabat in the next two weeks to show the countries' capabilities."

He also stressed that over 270 Iranian companies are scheduled to take part in the event.

"Iran has an expertise in various fields and is ready to export technical and engineering services to the neighboring countries," Nematzadeh noted.

Meredov, in turn, said enhancing bilateral ties with Iran is among his country's top priorities.

"The Iranian companies can play an important role in boosting the two countries' relations," he stressed.

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