Presidents of Belarus and Turkmenistan to discuss cooperation

ASHGABAT, April 28 (Itar-Tass) -- Belarusian President Alexander
Lukashenko late on Wednesday arrived in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat for a
three-day official visit. On Thursday, the sides will hold the first round
of talks to discuss the current state and prospects for further
development of trade and economic cooperation, as well as relation in the
area of the humanities.
"The talks are expected to be crowned by a number of important
documents geared towards maximum use of the potential of the
Turkmen-Belarusian cooperation, which is in the interests of both states,"
the press service of the Turkmen president said. " Showing a constructive
approach to cooperation, Turkmenistan and Belarus seek to make it systemic
and long-term."
The two countries have intensified their inter-state dialogue. Thus,
Belarus' president paid an official visit to Turkmenistan in 2009, and the
Turkmen president visited Belarus in 2010. The documents signed during
these visits considerably expanded the legal base for cooperation between
the two countries.
Belarus exports to Turkmenistan agricultural machines, trucks, tyres,
products of the woodworking industry, pharmaceuticals, and foodstuffs.
Turkenistan's exports to Belarus include cotton yarn and fibre, wool, and
textiles. A potash fertilizer complex is being built in Turkmenistan's
Lebapskaya region. The complex is being built by Belgorkhimprom of
Belarus. It first phase is estimated at one billion U.S. dollars.
According to a source in the Turkmen government, the Belarusian
president on Friday will visit the Caspian port city of Turkmenbashi,
where he will visit an oil refinery and a tourism zone on the Caspian
shore.