The highest building in the world Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai (UAE) was in the colours of the State Flag of our country in honour of Turkmenistan Independence Day on September 27.
Efficient illumination turned 828-meter building into shining red and green stalagmite with Turkmen carpet patterns and crescent with five stars, which has become an original and expressive gesture of friendship and fraternity.
The United Arab Emirates are old and big trade and economic partner of Turkmenistan.Bilateral contacts are effectively developed in different directions including between business structures.The interest of emirates’ business in strengthening of its positions in perspective Turkmen market, which is provided by forward-looking investment policy of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, integrated reformation programmes and projects aimed at industrialization and formation of modern diversified industrial infrastructure based on implementation of advanced technologies and developments, is growing.
In this aspect, official visits of Turkmen leader to United Arab Emirates and the Head of UAE to our country last years were remarkable steps toward steadfast development of bilateral cooperation.
The agreements achieved in the result of the visits and signed documents made reliable foundation for further activation of productive partnership in all spectrum.The visit of the President of Turkmenistan to United Arab Emirates in August 2007 and return visit of the President of the UAE in February 2008 were important milestones in modern history of Turkmen Emirati relations.
Another visit of Head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to UAE, which was forestalled by successful International Forum of Turkmenistan in Abu Dhabi one of the first similar major forums abroad, has opened new stage in development of bilateral cooperation.
Back then, business circles of UAE said about their keen interest in their presence in perspective Turkmen market.During the same visit in February 2010, Turkmen leader has visited Dubai where he looked around the main attraction of the city famous Burj Khalifa Tower accompanied by Vice-President of UAE, Prime Ministers, Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Muhammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
This grandiose skyscraper, which is crowned with shining 180-meter spire of metal constructions, is the main element of new business centre of Dubai.Talks between the Heads of Turkmenistan and UAE took place in Ashgabat in February 2013.
They have given new stimulus to further successful development of fruitful partnership.The sides have spoked for the intent to increase the efforts for expansion and enhancement of efficiency of cooperation in such priority spheres as oil and gas, petrochemical, chemical industry and renewable energy in the Joint Statement, which has been adopted by the outcomes of high-level talks together with other documents, Recognizing the role of humanitarian cooperation as important method for reproaching of the nations, intensification of understanding between them, mutual enrichment of cultures, development of friendship and partnership, the leaders of two countries agreed to encourage and intensify cultural exchanges as well as expand cooperation in tourism, sports, science and education.
Therefore, the highest officials of both countries aim bilateral relations to further strengthening of the place of our friendly states in geopolitical and economic space of the world.This is indicated by the outcomes of official visit of Turkmen leader to UAE in March 2018.
Talks in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirates, between Turkmen leader and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of UAE Sheikh Muhammed Bin Zayed Al Nahayan confirmed the commitment of both states to constructive collaboration on the principles of equal rights, common benefit and goodwill.
The talks have resulted in adoption of number of joint documents, which expanded regulatory and legal framework of cooperation as well as strengthened the relations in cultural sphere, banking business, energy sector and other fields.
During the visit, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had meetings with Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai Emirate Sheikh Muhammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister, Executive Secretary of the Office of the President of the UAE Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahayan.
Bilateral political and diplomatic relations are developed dynamically, which is indicated by mutual visits of government delegations as well as contacts between Foreign Ministries of Turkmenistan and United Arab Emirates.
Big attention is paid to the activity of Joint Committee for cooperation, which is aimed at improvement of mutual export and import potential, increment of trade volume and intensification of economic partnership, in strengthening f Turkmen Emirati relations.
As is known, Turkmenistan and United Arab Emirates are one of the richest states in the world by natural reserves, which makes necessary conditions for efficient consolidation of efforts in fuel and energy sector, opens wide prospects for cooperation in production and processing of oil and gas, bringing of energy resources to foreign markets.
Dragon Oil is one of the companies representing UAE in Turkmenistan, which is worth to be mentioned.Being one of the biggest foreign investors in our country, the company works in Turkmen section of Caspian Sea since 1999 under the Production Sharing Agreement.
Business circles of United Arab Emirates show keen interest in the project of construction of Turkmenistan Afghanistan Pakistan India gas line, which as President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov notes is to be a real contribution to the formation of modern global architecture of energy security, solution of current economic and social objectives as well as true bridge of peace and friendship between the nations of the countries participating in the project and entire region.
Continuing the subject of bilateral cooperation, it is worth to mention that Turkmenistan and UAE pay great attention to development of construction sphere and chemical industry.It gives an opportunity to develop new forms of cooperation in these fields.
According to both sides, establishment of contacts in production of construction materials and commodities of chemical industry is very perspective.
Such strategic sphere as transport is one of actual direction of interstate partnership.Taking into account favourable geographic location of Turkmenistan and UAE, cooperation in establishment of international transport and transit corridors, consolidation of potential for the formation of multimodal transport infrastructure seem to be reasonable.
By the way, today, our country attracts foreign investors as new big logistic and transit centre, important intersection of transboundary trade routes, which is a significant stimulus for attraction of investments.
This is quite logical as the track of the Silk Road used to cross Turkmen land for many centuries.Owing to targeted activity of Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, this legendary route is restored in new quality proving its actual role in development of efficient international cooperation and positive integrational processes in regional and global scale including as connecting link between Asia and Middle East.
In this aspect, business community of United Arab Emirates express the willingness to wider cooperation with our country in investment field, particularly in road and railway construction.In addition, business structures of UAE demonstrate interest in cooperation in number of other spheres.
These issues were repeatedly discussed during bilateral meetings of different level in the last years.Regular flights connecting both capitals support the development of business and tourist contacts.
Last year, the number of flights from Ashgabat by national carrier has increased to two flights week.At present time, Turkmen airlines make regular flights to Dubai.Opening Turkmen carpet, textile and souvenir shop in Dubai last June was a bright event demonstrating big perspectives of development of trade Turkmen Emirati relations.
It is worth mentioning that members of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan have demonstrated carpets at furniture, interior and design exhibition International Design Exhibition 2018 in Dubai in March 2018.
Success of Turkmen carpets at this review gave the idea to our entrepreneurs to open the shop in Emirates.Humanitarian sphere, which has big opportunities for intensification of fruitful cooperation in science and education, culture and art, is an integral component of relations between Turkmenistan and UAE.
It also seems to be necessary to intensify the contacts in study of rich historical and cultural heritage of the nations of two countries.Organization of the Days of Culture is one of the forms of this cooperation.
Peoples of Turkmenistan and UAE are united by similarity of everlasting spiritual and moral values, which serves as a reliable base for strengthening of friendship and fraternity.The fact that President of UAE Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan has financed the construction of Ashgabat Orphanage Centre Döwletliler köşgi from his funds as a sign of respect of Turkmen nation is one of examples of this cooperation.
Turkmen Emirati political dialog, which active character is inherent to the contacts under competent international organizations, especially the UN, is successfully developed.United Arab Emirates are among the first to support constructive proposals of our country made under the United Nations.
Both countries has the same or similar approaches to priority subjects of regional and global agenda, which at first, are related to provision of peace, security and progress.Therefore, having established diplomatic relations in 199, Turkmenistan and UAE steadily improve and strengthen their versatile relations.
For further development of bilateral relations, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made a decision of opening of the General Consulate of Turkmenistan to Dubai, United Arab Emirates on August 31, 2019.